Author's Note: Thanks again to everyone who's reviewed, alerted and favorited the story. Y'all are awesome! Also, it's still Sunday in my time zone, so I'm counting this as on time. ;) Anyway. Finally, we get some backstory on what went down between them prior to the start of this story (as alluded to in the first chapter). Aaaand... yeah! Hope y'all enjoy it. Cheers!
Disclaimer: Characters mentioned are used without permission and are trademarks of J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. Studios, while Drive Me Crazy is property of 20th Century Fox. I do not own them and am simply borrowing for my purposes. Please don't sue!

How to Deal
by Bether

Chapter 4: Something Real

Rose hummed faintly as she tapped the edge of her quill under her chin. "Bugger, I really hate Ancient Runes," she grumbled.

"Why do you take it then?" Scorpius asked from his seat across from her. They'd elected to study in the Head's common room instead of the library that day as exam season was closing in and it was becoming increasingly difficult to find free tables to study at. (Neither commented that they had little reason to study together where there was no audience to see them, though the thought had occurred to both of them.)

Shrugging, she pushed the book she was translating from aside. "Insatiable thirst for knowledge?" she offered half-heartedly. "It's just—we only get to translate things that have already been translated! I want a real challenge."

Scorpius smirked. "And could you translate something properly that hadn't yet been translated if given the chance?"

Her ears turned red as she heaved a sigh. "Well, no, probably not entirely," she admitted reluctantly.

"Then I'd concentrate on walking before you take off running, pet," he said in this one particular tone that always left her itching to smack him.

Rose settled for lobbing a pillow at his head.

"Hey!" he objected, dodging with reflexes his tenure on the Quiddich team had no doubt honed. "Watch it, you, or I'll be forced to retaliate."

There was a long moment where they stared at each other in anticipation. Rose broke it when she threw another pillow at him. Immediately, Scorpius was on his feet. She matched him for speed (if not coordination) and, each holding soft weapons in their hands, the pair circled.

So, okay, it wasn't a terribly productive with their time but at least she got a temporary reprieve from Ancient Runes. Silver lining and all that.

The day of the Gryffindor/Slytherin Quiddich match, Rose's stomach was in knots. Scorpius was fine with her sitting with her housemates but who was she to root for? In her heart, she knew she wanted the Lions to triumph… but she didn't want Scorpius to lose, either. So, yeah. She was a bit stressed.

In the end, there could be only one winner. Albus played his heart out but, without James as seeker, they were doomed from the start. Slytherin won by a narrow margin and, though she resigned herself to an evening of comforting and coddling her cousins, a small part of her was pleased. Scorpius had played particularly well. She was actually quite proud of him.

So proud, in fact, that she braved the icy weather to wait for him to exit the changing rooms. She promised to meet her cousins and friends bearing gifts (as, like her parents before her, Rose had discovered a number of the castle's secrets) and they left her mostly without complaint. Finally, a freshly showered Scorpius appeared with a silly grin plastered across his face.

"Congratulations!" she cried, rushing over to him and throwing her arms around him. "You were completely brilliant out there."

His grin didn't dim, though he had a curious look on his face. "Careful, someone might hear you and think you were plotting with the enemy."

She swatted at his shoulder. "I'm sure you're dying to join in the party down in the dungeon—" Gryffindor was still Slytherin's biggest rival, after all, "but I thought I'd walk you. I need to stop by the kitchens, anyway."

"Oh?"

Rose smiled. "Yes. And, no, I'm not telling you how to get inside. I'm sure you've got castle secrets of your own; I'm entitled keep mine."

He was smirking now as he threw an arm around her shoulder. "Fair enough," he agreed, though she guessed it was mostly for the sake of agreeing. Good moods were like that.

They walked in a comfortable silence, Scorpius practically beaming pride and Rose content to drink it in. He was rarely so open and it made her feel as if she almost knew him. It was nice.

When they reached the staircase leading down to the Slytherin common room, he pulled away and started toward them. "Scorpius, wait!" Rose called suddenly, an unfamiliar urgency pushing at her insides. He turned, raising one eyebrow expectantly and she felt the knots in her belly pull tighter. (She should've just let him go. But no. Something had pushed her at this moment and she couldn't back down now.) "I, uh… er, about your mum—"

"Rose, you don't have to say anything," he interrupted, trying to force a smile and failing miserably. (So much for that good mood.) "It was four years ago."

She shook her head. "No, I do. Please, just—just let me say my piece." The fear and guilt twisted up her insides but she knew it was long past due that she made amends for all her terrible treatment of Scorpius years earlier. (Besides, now that the can of worms was open, it wasn't like she could close it again.)

Taking a breath, Rose found her voice: "I know it was horrible—that I was horrible to you when your… when your mum died. It was completely unfair and I was an utter berk. I know there's no excuse—there can never be an excuse, but I…" She looked down in shame. "I was jealous. Inexplicably and irrationally jealous because my mum and dad had just divorced and it felt so unfair that you were getting all the attention and sympathy when I felt like someone had ripped out my heart and trounced it.

"But," she continued hurriedly, catching the guarded expression on his face, "I was a total idiot for even thinking the words. Honestly, I can't even begin to explain how my mind was working because it's nonsensical. I was so very wrong, and I just—I want you to know how sorry I am. For all the times I was difficult and all the terrible things I said. For Godric's sake, your mum died and I thought something as stupid as divorce could even compare?" Rose was beyond disgusted by her younger self. "I really don't even know how you can stand to be near me."

There was a long stretch of uncomfortable silence between them. Rose held her breath, praying it hadn't been a mistake. Hoping that he might understand, even just a tiny bit. That he might forgive her and maybe there wouldn't have to be this terribly awkward thing constantly hovering about them. Because if he didn't—if he couldn't… she really thought she might be losing something important. And that worried her more than a dumb thing like pride. (Never mind that pride was basically the reason she was here now, having fueled the entire boyfriend plot in the first place.)

"It is a trial," Scorpius said finally, tone grave and face serious. Her brows were furrowed with concern and confusion, so he clarified: "Being around you, that is. But, somehow, I manage to suffer through." He tried to fight off his smile but it was a losing battle.

Rose clucked her tongue and crossed her arms. "Mean," she grumbled, slightly put out.

His smile didn't wane. "You're so dramatic, Rose," he replied, "how could I not take advantage? In all seriousness, though—" and he did look serious again, "it was a long time ago. Consider it water under the bridge or whatever colloquialism fits." She must've looked unconvinced because he took her hands in his and gave a squeeze. "And Rose? Thank you." He pecked her cheek before releasing her and running a hand rakishly through his hair. "Now, I'm off to celebrate!" With that, Scorpius turned and sauntered off, broom leaning on his shoulder.

Shaking her head, Rose watched him for a moment before doubling back toward the painting that led to the kitchen. Boys. They had the emotional maturity of gnats, honestly. But she, at least, was glad to get all that off her chest. Now all she had to do was feed the Gryffindor quiddich team and listen to her cousins mope for hours. Awesome. (It really was too bad she couldn't join the Slytherins. Theirs was bound to be more fun than what she was facing.)