"So," Scorpius said, spinning Rose with one hand and catching her neatly with the other. "How many people asked who you were going with?"

"You wouldn't believe," Rose sighed. "Al came up with some pretty good dodges, though."

"He's good at that," Scorpius agreed, just as the song ended. "Want to get a drink?"

"Definitely."

They walked over to a table on the side of the hall. Albus and Polly were already sitting there, chattering away. Six glasses of butterbeer sat on the tabletop, four of them untouched.

"Why six?" Rose inquired of Albus, who looked up as she sat down. Scorpius seated himself beside her.

"For you lot, of course!" Albus replied, grinning. "We're just waiting for James and Tricia now. Polly wants a keepsake."

"A what?" Scorpius queried.

"A picture," Polly explained. "I like to put them onto key chains. I thought it'd be nice to have a moving memory of the ball. I'll make a few copies," she added generously, pulling her wizarding camera out of her purse.

"What's happening?" James asked, a broad smile on his face as he and Tricia walked up, hand in hand. Albus gestured for them to sit down, then hailed a passing friend of his.

"Hey, Connolly- mind doing me a favor?"

The boy named Connolly shrugged. "What's up, Al?"

Albus handed him the camera. Connolly took a few paces back, aimed, and said, "Okay, everyone say peas."

"It's cheese, you moron!" Albus exclaimed just as the blinding flash went off. Everyone laughed as Connolly handed back the camera, then wandered off in search of his date. Albus passed it to Polly, who carefully put it into her purse.

"Okay," James said as a new song, a much slower one, struck up. "That's enough drinking for now. Tricia, if you will?"

Laughing, the two glided off into the crowd. Albus grabbed Polly's hand and they disappeared into the throng.

"Have you ever slow-danced with anyone before?" Scorpius asked. "Because I haven't, and I have no idea how."

"My uncle tried to teach me once," Rose responded. "Suffice it to say that his toes kept getting in my way."

"Fancy a walk instead, then?"

"All right."

The two slipped out of the Great Hall and started down the path. The usual benches and bushes had been erected, and every few feet giggling could be heard from in between them.

"So," Scorpius noted, gazing out into the trees. "Nice weather."

"It's quite chilly, actually."

"Right."

Some more silence. Rose ran her hands up her arms, and Scorpius said, "Are you - you must be - are you . . . yeah, you're cold, right?"

"Brilliant deduction," Rose grinned. Scorpius was adorable when he was flustered.

Scorpius looked quickly at her, then smiled in an embarrassed sort of way as he undid his cloak and placed it neatly around her shoulders. Rose's face heated.

"Uh - thanks."

He smiled again, and she smiled back. He smiled again. She supposed they'd have to say something before both their mouths were sore, but Merlin's beard, she was happy just to smile at his pale gray eyes and pointed chin.

Scorpius's hand was on the bench, just a bit away from hers. She inched her fingers closer. He did the same. Then slowly, very slowly, their fingers touched. Rose blushed. Scorpius did the same.

A rustle in the bushes made them both jump. Albus stepped out of the bush, a gleeful smile on his face.

"Isn't this cute?" he asked, grinning.

"Albus!" Rose snatched her hand out of Scorpius's and glared at her cousin. "What in the name of Merlin are you doing?"

"Just watching." He leaned back on his heels. "You guys are adorable."

"Shut up, Albus," Rose said. She was vaguely aware to be embarrassed of her outburst, especially in front of Scorpius, but she was annoyed. She was trying to have a moment here!

"Rose, it's fine, we can just –" Scorpius moved to towards her, but she was faster than him.

"Not now, Scorpius." She turned to Albus. "Albus, you are always getting in my way! Can't you just let me do things on my own?"

Scorpius backed away slightly. His eyes were a mixture of delight, puzzlement, and trepidation. Women, he thought.

"Well," Abus said, moving back toward the shadows. "I'll just let you go on doing -" he paused. "Whatever it was you were doing."

"I swear I'm going to strangle him," Rose muttered.

"Likewise," Scorpius said quietly. They smiled at each other again, and Rose was glad their moment was back. "First thing tomorrow."