Author's Note: This is it! The final chapter! (Well, minus the epilogue, which will be posted next Sunday… possibly actually on time.) Thanks to everyone who's favorited, followed and reviewed—you're all amazing and I'm immensely grateful. Not 100% sure I'm satisfied with everything in this chapter but I'd just keep editing it forever if I didn't post it already, so. Yeah. 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 8: Conflict Resolution

Rose and Miles were spinning on the dance floor almost but not quite in time with the beat. The hairdo Lily and Roxanne had slaved over for the better part of the afternoon was slowly falling apart thanks to all the sharp turns and dips. She didn't much care, though, as the lavender dress robes her mum had given her for Christmas fanned out around her because she was having fun. It felt like ages since she'd let go and just had fun.

In fact, Miles had kept her laughing throughout the entire evening. Her cheeks were starting to ache from smiling so much and she thought that was what all celebrations ought to be like. She vowed to make more time for fun and laughter now that her scholastic career was coming to an end.

There was a brief pause in the music during which Rose and Miles caught their breath. Brushing back a loose curl, Rose was happily flushed. A new song began but Miles appeared momentarily distracted. She was about to ask if he was all right when he spoke up: "Libations, milady?" He wiggled his eyebrows. "I'm quite parched myself."

Giggling at his goofy nature, she agreed that a drink would be rather nice. She turned to watch Miles head for refreshment table when a body blocked her view. Blinking, she moved her gaze to the face of none other than Scorpius Malfoy.

For the first time that night, the smile left her face. "Scorpius."

"I was going to ask to cut in," he said, skipping over the usual pleasantries generally required by polite society.

Rose felt slightly perturbed (he'd lost the right to familiarity months ago) but did her best to mask it. "Well, Miles went that way," she said, pointing over his shoulder. "I'm sure you can catch up to him without too much trouble."

For a moment Scorpius looked confused, then his lips quirked into a smirk. "May I have a dance, Rose?" he asked all manners and flourish now.

Her voice of reason told her to say no but her mouth didn't listen. "Sure, okay." It felt mechanically—the agreement, the movement to place her hand in his—like none of this was real. (She wished more than a little that it really wasn't.)

He led her onto the dance floor then turned to face her. One hand went to her waist, the other took her hand and Rose had never hated the properness of waltzing so much. With her free hand resting lightly on his shoulder, she followed his lead and prayed this would pass painlessly—assuming such a thing was even possible.

Oh, well. At least Scorpius didn't seem terribly keen on conversing.

Although… if he didn't want to talk, why had he bothered her with the request to dance in the first place? A flash of anger struck her and she clenched her jaw. Was he playing with her? After everything that'd happened and he thought he had the right? Well, if he thought she was just going to let him do whatever he pleased, then he was about to experience a rude awakening.

Starting with the elephant in the room: "So where's Abigail?" she asked pointedly.

Shrugging, he spun her out and back to him. "Dunno."

Rose's eyes narrowed. After all the time and effort he'd put into winning her back? Please. He wasn't getting off that easily. "What? You lose her in the crowd or something?"

"Didn't invite her," Scorpius replied easily. "I came stag."

Eyes widening, she nearly stopped dancing in surprise. "What? Why?"

He gave her a pointed look of his own. "I didn't want to invite her. And the girl I did want to invite already had a date."

Rose felt her heart skip a beat, but she ignored it. "Don't," she ordered in a low tone. "We are not doing this." Not here, not now—not ever if she had her say. It was too much! And she honestly didn't know if she was more concerned he might be toying with her or that he might not.

The hand on her waist tightened perceptibly as he pulled her closer to him. "Typical." Her eyes flashed with anger but he pressed on. "Merlin, Rose, you make talking to you bloody impossible."

"I do not," she huffed indignantly.

He shook his head. "Do so."

"Do not!" (And now she sounded like a five-year-old, great.)

Scorpius scoffed. "Prove me wrong then. Just this once, how about you actually let me explain—?"

Rose bristled. "There's nothing to explain."

"Would you just let me fucking finish?" Aggravation had leaked into his tone; it matched the upset in his expression. "Merlin, Rose! I'm trying to tell you that I love you."

This time Rose did stop moving; in fact, she froze on the spot. "What?" she whispered after an infinitely long moment. "No." She shook her head, expression severe. "That's not funny, Scorpius." For a moment, she had the insane urge to slap him. Instead, she pushed him away and marched out of the Hall.

Multiple sets of eyes followed her but she couldn't bring herself to give a damn. Not when her stomach was a mess, her brain felt broken and she couldn't decide whether she wanted to scream or cry.

It didn't take long for Scorpius to catch up to her (damn his longer stride) and latch onto her arm. "I'm serious, Rose."

Rounding to face him, she tried to shake him off. "No, you're not." There was something desperate (and perhaps a bit hysterical) in her insistence.

It was easily matched by his steely determination. "Yes, I am."

"No." Rose finally succeeded in freeing herself from his grasp and crossed her arms over her chest. "You love Abigail." Hadn't everything been for her? Wasn't that the whole point? Nothing made any sense!

"No, I don't," Scorpius replied. "I thought I did but then you were gone and it was like… everything was a bit darker for it." He looked a bit pained but she suspected he'd probably never said anything quite so poncy before, so… yeah.

Only now Rose felt stuck. Seriously—what the bloody hell was she supposed to say to that? She threw her hands up in frustration. "Well… you can't!"

Now he seemed confused. "What? Why not?"

She stared down at the stone floor, as miserable as she'd felt when her parents told her they were separating. (The truth hurt like that sometimes.) "Because then I'll have to admit that I…" she took a breath and blurted out the rest, "love-you-too."

Scorpius tipped her chin up with his hand, so she was forced to look at him. "That's a bad thing?"

It shouldn't be. Intellectually, she knew that. But watching her parents marriage fall apart had quite literally broken her heart. She'd never wanted anyone to wield that kind of power over her again and the thought that he might—that he quite possibly already did—terrified her.

"It is if you hurt me," she admitted finally, voice small. Fuck, she hated feeling small. Hated feeling compelled to do things, too, but his stare had worn her down.

"Rose, I never want to hurt you." He sounded like he meant it, too.

There was just one thing. (Too bad it was the only thing that really mattered where that whole trust thing was concerned.) "Okay." She took a breath before forcing herself to ask the question she was still pretty sure she didn't want an answer to: "Then why did you snog Ophelia?"

"Honestly? That berk latched onto me and kissed me before I even knew what was happening." Scorpius shook his head. "I was trying to push her off when you walked in—I swear." He sounded sincere, he looked sincere.

Rose bit her lip, still uncertain. She tried to remember that night but it was all too hazy with anger and hurt. Which left her the option of trusting him—or not.

She thought about all of the stupid reasons they'd teamed up in the first place, all the reasons they shouldn't bother with this mess. She supposed he could be trying to trick her but what would be the point? They were leaving Hogwarts for the final time in a matter of days and it wasn't like he owed her anything (at least, not according to the terms of their agreement).

So why? Why explain himself when he didn't have to? Why chase after her when she ran? Why tell her he loved her at all?

Maybe… maybe because it was true.

Sure, it was probably true that a part of her was hopeful because she felt that way herself but maybe that was all right. She'd guarded her heart as fiercely as possible and he'd still managed to slither in like the sneaky Slytherin he was. And if he broke her heart, well, that might be okay, too (although she hoped she wouldn't have to find out firsthand).

Bottom line: she wanted to believe him, she wanted to trust him, she wanted to be with him and have it be real. She wanted to give them a try.

Rose let herself smile a little and nodded. "Okay."

He grinned and it reached his eyes. "I wanted to tell you before but…" He shrugged. "And then Abby wanted to get back together and it was all so much easier—"

She frowned, crossing her arms again. "Gee, thanks."

Somehow Scorpius managed to keep her gaze. "But it wasn't worth anything because she wasn't you." There was this burning intensity to his words and in his eyes and she felt her insides melt just a bit. (Well, maybe more than a bit.)

She hid said melty feelings with a light laugh, pushing his shoulder playfully. "Charmer."

He ran a hand through his hair, smirking. "I do try."

Despite her inclination to be contrary, she settled on sincerity. "You do succeed—mostly." (Couldn't have him getting a big head, after all.) She toyed with her hair, hoping she wasn't exuding the nervous energy she felt. "So… what now?"

Scorpius leaned down until his lips were a hair's breadth away from hers. "This." Then he kissed her, soft and solid. Sweet and warm—like he loved her.

Shifting closer, Rose smiled against his lips. He loved her.

(Yeah, definitely the best Ball she'd ever been to.)