Hello! I've received such wonderful reviews on this story recently that I thought I'd update it for you! I don't actually really like this chapter, but I kind of thought some scenes were necessary for relationship development (hopefully that will make more sense at the end). Anyways, thanks again for the awesome reviews!

Disclaimer: I don't own it. JK Rowling doesn't wanna give up the rights

Chapter 16: Starting Afresh

After that Friday, things changed drastically inside Hogwarts Castle. Instead of routine arguments and screaming matches from two certain people, there were now friendly exchanges and willing partnership in classes. And nobody knew what to think.

The Slytherins honestly didn't give a crap (or so they claimed), the Hufflepuffs thought it was cute (and had a bet going as to when Rose and Scorpius would be an official couple), the Ravenclaws actually didn't care (the fact that Rose was in the tower more had boosted several of their grades), and the Gryffindors were in a full-out panic (and nobody was quite sure why). The teachers were more grateful to have peaceful (if less eventful) classes.

Rose's cousins weren't really sure what to think. Dominique wouldn't say anything on the subject, but could be found surveying Rose and Scorpius with a small smile on her lips as they walked down the hall. Louis was just waiting for them to officially get together. Molly and Lucy both sided with Louis. Fred and Roxanne both thought the entire thing was disgusting, Fred insisting that the two were natural enemies and betting that the "friendship" wouldn't last for more than a month, whereas Roxanne couldn't understand "why anyone would want to bother with all that romance crap anyway". Hugo was disgusted. James was concerned that Rose would "let her focus shift" (as he put it) from Quidditch to...other things. Albus was happy for them, and that was that, and Lily just wanted to know how it would all play out.

Rose and Scorpius themselves, however, were perfectly happy at the time. They were finding that they were actually quite alike in their views on the world, but completely different when it came to interests and hobbies. In addition to blue, forests, dogs, and the Wizard of Oz, Rose learned that Scorpius liked Muggle books, broomsticks, broccoli, chess, and plants. In turn, Scorpius learned that Rose liked rain, history books, cherries, chess, and spellwork; as well as purple, dolphins, and roses . The discovery that both of them liked chess lead to several long nights in Ravenclaw tower that once ended with Scorpius falling asleep right on the board.

The biggest difference, though, was the fact that Rose and Scorpius' detentions were now full of laughter instead of bickering, and no longer a punishment.

It was October 28, and Rose and Scorpius had been assigned to reorganize the books in the Herbology section of the library. Madame Pince had had a headache, and as a result the two of them were alone in the library.

"So, sixteen now, huh?" Scorpius asked, looking over at Rose, who was sorting a pile of books.

"What?" she asked absentmindedly.

"You turned sixteen last week, didn't you?" Scorpius asked. Rose nodded.

"So did Molly," she said, handing him a stack of books. "We're the closest of the cousins; only five days apart."

"Wow," Scorpius muttered. "That's cool. Do you like being sixteen?"

For whatever reason, that was the question that caught Rose's attention the most.

"It doesn't really feel any different," she said thoughtfully. "I mean, every year I tell myself that I've gotten older, but I never really feel like it. Sixteen always seemed so old to me before, but now that I'm actually sixteen, I just feel so young."

Scorpius stared at her. "The Sorting Hat placed you in Gryffindor because..."

Rose laughed. "I don't know. I mean, I'm smart, but I didn't want to be in Ravenclaw...there must have been some part of me that the Hat felt was more Gryffindor than Ravenclaw."

"I guess," Scorpius said. "Don't know what that part is, though."

"I don't, either," Rose confessed. "Darren always said...never mind," she cut herself off, turning away from Scorpius.

"I still can't believe you dated that git," Scorpius said. "Did he say mean stuff to you when he was your boyfriend, too?"

"No," Rose admitted. "He always used to try to make 'suggestions'. To wear my hair a different way, to put on makeup. All sorts of just little things that added up to him being an over controlling ass."

"That's rich," Scorpius muttered. "He could do with some improvements himself."

Rose snorted in agreement. Silence fell between them for awhile as they continued to sort books. Then, as Rose was getting up to go put a book away, she used the "hidden Gryffindor" side of her and asked Scorpius the question that had often been on her mind.

"So how about you? Have you had any other girlfriends?"

"Yeah," Scorpius admitted. "Two."

"Two?" Rose asked, surprise coloring her voice.

"Why so surprised, Weaselbee?" he asked, trying not to snap at her.

"No reason," she replied nonchalantly, turning away to put more books in the bookshelf.

"There has to be some reason," Scorpius snapped, getting to his feet. "Been listening to the rumors about me, have you?"

"No."

"Yes you have. I know what they say. They say I'm such a prick, sleeping with a different girl each week. They say I only want to sleep with them, that it's my goal to sleep with each girl in Hogwarts before I leave. Well, guess what? They're WRONG!" he bellowed, slamming a fist against the bookshelf and causing an avalanche of books. "They don't know me! They don't have any right to judge me! I'm nothing, NOTHING like my father!"

"Scorpius!" Rose said, stopping his hand before he could hit the bookshelf again. "I know you're not! You've made that quite clear! I don't listen to the rumors about you, and as a matter of fact I find them ridiculous and shallow. Now please, stop, you're making a mess."

It was true. All their handiwork from the past two hours was lying all over the floor. No doubt it would take just as long to put it all back.

Scorpius swore, lowering his hand. "I'm sorry, Rose."

"It's quite alright, Scorpius. I know what it's like to have rumors spread all over the school about you," she said, her tone stiff.

"Yeah, I heard those," he said. "Didn't believe them, though."

"You'd be the first person outside my family," Rose replied, picking up the books and starting to return them to their slots. Scorpius helped her, and for nearly an hour, they worked in silence, until Rose got the courage to ask her question again.

"So, who were they?" she asked. Scorpius sighed.

"Riley McGuire and Alyssa McGhee," he admitted. "And they were both horrible."

"Really? I know Alyssa, she's nice."

Scorpius snorted. "Yeah, that's what she likes you to think. You good friends with her or not?"

"No, I've only spoken to her a couple times in Astronomy," Rose replied.

"See, that's why. As soon as you get close to her, she's whiny and clingy and doesn't want you out of her sight. She's a right bitch if you decide you need to work on your homework, too, because all she wants to do is snog," Scorpius said. "I don't think we lasted more than a month and a half."

"And Riley?" Rose asked, careful to keep her back to him.

"Boring. Boring as watching paint dry. I mean, she's pretty, don't get me wrong, but she's not even interesting at all. Unless you're willing to sit and have your nails painted - repeatedly."

Rose let out a sort of half-laugh and didn't reply. For a long time, they worked in silence, sorting and shelving the books they loved.

"Hey, Rose," Scorpius said cautiously.

"Mhmm?"

"I, um...I read 'Pride and Prejudice'," he admitted. "And...I liked it."

Rose dropped the load of books she was holding. "What?"

"What's going on here?" came a dry, wheezy voice behind them. They both whirled to see Argus Filch standing there with a lamp in his hand, watching them suspiciously. "Aren't you done yet?"

"Yes, we are," Rose said hurriedly. "I was just putting these last few away." She quickly gathered the books she'd dropped on the floor and put them away in their proper places, then she and Scorpius stood back and let Filch examine their work.

"Looks good," he snarled after examining the shelves intently for several minutes. "You may go."

The two fifth years nodded and quickly hurried out of the library and into the corridors.

"I hate it when he does that," Rose said. "I'm always sure he's going to find a mistake and we're going to have to do it all over again."

"Me too," Scorpius admitted.

"What were you saying about 'Pride and Prejudice'?" Rose asked.

"Nothing," Scorpius said a little too quickly. He didn't often blush, but his cheeks turned a faint pink.

"It was not nothing," Rose insisted. "You said you liked it, didn't you?"

Scorpius didn't respond

"Didn't you?"

Still no response.

"Scorpius..."

"Fine! Yes, I kind of liked it!" he replied, deliberately staring at the wall in front of them and not at her.

"I'm glad," Rose said simply. "Jane Austen is rather unappreciated in the Wizarding World. Only Molly and Dom have read any of her works, and it does get rather boring only having the two of them to discuss her with."

"Don't you have any Muggle friends?"

Rose shook her head. "I used to, up until fifth grade. Mum and Dad sent me to public school rather than homeschooling me, and I was good friends with most of the girls in my class. But then, of course, I started Hogwarts and I haven't seen them much since."

"Oh. Well, I wouldn't mind discussing it with you..."

"Really? Oh, good. Now, do you think the way women were treated in the book reflected the society of the time? I've studied Muggle history, and I think..."

Rose was off, discussing everything from societal influence to the way the romance developed between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett. Scorpius, with a fairly limited knowledge of Muggle history and impacts of literature, did his best to keep up, but in the end, Rose eventually gave up.

"Well, I guess you'd have to have the years of background knowledge I do to really understand it," she sighed.

"Yeah," Scorpius replied, his head spinning. "Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow, then..."

"See you tomorrow," Rose said, waving at him as they reached the base of Ravenclaw Tower. Scorpius smiled at her, his gaze lingering on her face a little longer than necessary. She felt her breath hitch in her throat, but before she could react in any way, Scorpius had turned and disappeared up the winding staircase, leaving Rose with much to think about.

How's that? OK? Well, hopefully it's acceptable at least. I've written almost four pages of nothing but fluff for the next chapter, and I'm trying to decide to post that or write something perhaps more substantial. But anyways, please review and tell me what you think!

Lovelovelove -D-