Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Any of it.

Hi, everyone! I'm back. Let's start with this week's thanks: thank you to Son of Whitebeard, JSLaw, MLMarint and BellaStoria for your reviews this week! JSLaw, you may get your wishes soon and MLMarint, thank you so much! I'm so flattered that this is one of your favourites! ^^ I just hope I can continue pleasing you all!

Enjoy!

Chapter 5: The Rose Plan

By Week 3, Scorpius had decided that the name 'free period' was actually a joke. A cruel joke, made up by the education gods, to remind them that they were all inadequate in their studies.

"Why the hell do they give us free periods, when we all know that they're just more study time?"

"Because they remind you that you're failing so hard, and that if you didn't suck so much you might actually be free in that time."

Scorpius grimaced at Max' explanation over his fried eggs at breakfast. And he felt bleary and sleepy all through Transfiguration that morning - which was never the lesson to feel tired in unless you wanted a bollocking - only really waking up when he got to Alchemy.

"Scor, you need more sleep." Albus mumbled to him as Slughorn marked the register.

Scorpius yawned into his sleeve, shrugging Albus off. "You should've seen the essay Professor Binns gave us."

"The unicorn one?"

Scorpius nodded. Free periods had become such torture thanks to professors like Professor Binns. Teach them all some things in class - then set an essay about an entirely different topic. They were doing about the Roman Witches - and what relevance did one General seeing a unicorn maybe in German somewhere have to do with that?! Night after night, he pushed himself to stay up later and later just to finish everything he needed to, and stay on top of prefects rounds and Quidditch practice. He wasn't the only one, either; the library and the common room was often littered with sixth and seventh years staying up late to finish their work. Honestly, he was starting to wonder if he was losing brain cells rather than gaining them.

But at least he was still good at Alchemy - because one hour later, he had an ounce of mercury sitting before him where there had been a pound of lead.

"Scorpius my boy, excellent work!" Slughorn gave him a hearty clap on the back, almost knocking him into the poisonous metal. He had a surprising amount of strength for such an old man. "But how might you perfect your technique to increase the yield?"

Scorpius could almost feel the gears in his head clunking into action. "I suppose if I had controlled the heat of the fire in the earlier stages better, I might be able to regulate the boiling point of lead more accurately and thereby increase the yield."

Slughorn nodded in approval, a smug smile on his face for how well he thought he'd instructed his pupils. That Albus' tongue was sticking out the corner of his mouth in concentration as a wrangled a couple of drops of mercury from his cauldron was seemingly of no consequence.

"Seriously Scor, tell me your secrets!" Albus whined as they left the classroom.

Scorpius always felt awkward about things like this. Just like Albus could challenge him in Defence Against the Dark Arts without really knowing why, Scorpius didn't exactly understand why he could do potions and alchemy so well, either. It just made sense to him, as though the method was an equation and it fit perfectly in his mind.

Thankfully, he was saved from answering by a hand on his shoulder. Unfortunately, it was Mia Clarke.

"Scor! You've been hiding from me lately. Where have you been?"

"The Library." He didn't even challenge that he'd been avoiding her. He didn't have the energy for this, now.

She hummed. "I haven't been there since the tour in first year. Maybe I should go again."

"Please don't. You... wouldn't give anyone else a chance in Astronomy!" He spluttered, adding the latter part as an afterthought when she genuinely looked a bit offended. He didn't like her, but that didn't mean he had to be a dick about it.

"But I want to see you!" He chuckled awkwardly, and tried to edge away from her, to no avail. "Anyway, I've been thinking a lot about who I'd like to go to the Ball with."

"Oh?" He hoped that she'd somehow decided someone else was the man for her. He wouldn't even be surprised if she'd said Louis Weasley - everyone and their house-elf wanted to go with him.

"Yeah." She smiled, dark eyes twinkling in the torchlight of the dungeons. "I think he knows it, too. Later."

She left without another word, leaving an exasperated Albus and Scorpius in her wake.

"It's a good job you have any dignity otherwise you would've got laid so long ago."

Scorpius narrowed his eyes in confusion, still staring at the corridor she'd disappeared down. "Sometimes I wish I was more like Max."

Albus sighed. "Me too, mate. Me too."

But this kind of situation wasn't at all anything to gossip about anymore. You could almost smell the desperation lingering in the air of the corridors sometimes. Anyone who could was trying to get someone to take them to the Ball. Since all the students had grown up in peace times, there was no hint of drama other than who went out with who, who called who what, who gave who a mean look. His dad had pointed it out to Scorpius in a letter; when they'd had the ball, they lived in a remarkably different time. Staying alive and avoiding dementors or malicious dark creatures was so much more important than who they went to the ball with. Now, they had nothing to set the castle abuzz with excitement except for idle gossip.

"I've had twelve invitations already." Joshua declared as they entered the penultimate week of September.

Alfie just continued to read the papers as the rest ate on. Joshua was popular with the ladies for some reason. Probably his dashing good looks and oozing confidence. He'd had a glow-up in Year 4, and no one had missed it; from a short, skinny ginger he turned into a tall, muscular brunette with a charismatic grin. Sometimes Scorpius wanted to punch him in his perfect teeth for it.

"And?" Max finally took the bait. "I've had eighteen."

Albus rolled his eyes. He'd been asked out by a very shy and giggly Phoebe Allsop, and not the Ravenclaw he fantasised about. On Scorpius' part, he'd had the very obvious hint from Mia, and a couple of Slytherins in the year below had become increasingly giggly around him. He and Albus were still social poison to the other houses though. Not a bad as they used to be, but still to the point where it was a bit awkward to be seen in public with them unless you had a very good reason.

"But I'm not going to accept any of mine." Joshua said boldly.

Now that caught their attention.

"Who are you, and what have you done with Joshua?"

"Is the Bloody Baron living in your body again?"

"Again?"

"Long story." Joshua shrugged it off as if it were normal for a ghost to slide into your body every now and then. "It's because I've got my eyes set on one girl in particular."

"Oh?"

"Are you planning on telling us any time soon?"

"No."

Scorpius blinked. He checked his watch. "Well, I make that about 4 minutes of my time wasted. Cheers!"

Joshua pulled a face, and went back to staring off aimlessly. Alfie traced his eyesight, had a revelatory look pass over his face, then went back to reading the news.

"Um, Alfie?"

"Yep?"

"Planing I'm telling us who it is then?"

"That's Joshua's business."

"Oh for fucks-"

A giddy looking fourth year came up to them as tapped Max on the shoulder.

Albus and Scorpius shared a look, and packed up their stuff.

"Good luck, lady," Albus called to the brunette as they walked past, "but he's really more into blondes!"

Scorpius snorted. "No need to crush her dreams. We all know he's into anything with a pulse.

"Alfie?"

"Hm."

"How do you know literally everything?"

Alfie drew the book away from his face. "Scorpius, you make absolutely no sense sometimes."

"It's just that you worked out who Joshua fancies in about three seconds."

Alfie raised his eyebrows. "He was staring right at her."

"Oh, he was?! Can't you tell me who it is?"

"Sorry Scor, that's his business."

Scorpius settled back down into his seat. He was right, but Scorpius also loved knowing things. About people, about things. He didn't really see what the difference between gossip and knowledge was when you got down to it, anyway. It probably also explained why he wasn't in Ravenclaw.

"I don't know how you do it."

"To be fair, Scorpius, you have no siblings. You have no practice in keeping secrets because no one else told you any." He flicked a page nonchalantly. "Sorry. It is true, though."

Scorpius shrugged. "What're you going to do? Only child's lot."

Alfie grinned. "I used to wish I was an only child, sometimes."

Alfie was the youngest of six brothers. Six incredibly macho, quidditch playing and rough-housing brothers. They'd been part of the reason why Alfie had never really spoken to him and Albus until their third year outside of their dorm.

"I think I'd rather be one of one than one of six, too."

Alfie put down his book, trapping his thumb between the old, yellowed pages of 'Astrology of the Egyptian Kingdom'. "You should've seen the fights we'd have. My three eldest brothers hated each other when we were a lot younger. And since I was the youngest of them all, the beatings I used to get-" his expression soured a little. "But when it was clear I was just the quiet kid, I became the secret box for everyone."

"You were essentially the most valuable kid in that whole house."

Alfie nodded. "Sort of. I know some weird shit."

"Go on." Scorpius prodded with an evil grin.

Alfie leaned in conspiratorially. "Well, I know that Robert wanted to marry his wife's friend at first, not his wife. And that Alexander went to London for a wizard rave, not the conference my parents think. He ended up stuck in a flat with three trolls for a few days and was off his face on Merlin knows what, before he finally sobered up enough to apparate home. He landed directly in my room, and I helped clean him up a bit before I made him apparate outside and come in through the front door."

"You have to be joking!"

Alfie laughed, leaning away. "Nope. Mum and Dad never found out about either of those things, either. But they're both rich as bollocks and living in London now, so I doubt they would even care."

Scorpius snickered. Alfie was the kind of Scotsman who was essentially just English aristocracy who lived in a castle somewhere in the highlands and didn't even have an accent. That being said, he might fight you if you called him English. "Families are weird."

They heard a cooing voice behind them. "Breaking up a mother's meeting, am I?"

Alfie reopened his book, brining it up to his face. "Not at all."

Max slid himself between the pair. "Guess what I did today."

"Gain respect for women?"

"Finally see those unicorns you've been baiting for weeks?"

Max successfully distracted them all until Albus arrived, two shining mauve envelopes in hand.

"Guess who just got these on the way back from dinner?" He wielded the pair like a fan as he stepped in front of the fire.

"Slug club invitations?"

"Unless you're being kicked out in the ponciest way ever."

"Wouldn't put it past Slughorn." Scorpius intoned. "But don't worry Alfie, we'll take you as our date."

Alfie just held up two fingers in response, not even bothering to roll his eyes.

But as they fought their way past Slughorn's remarkably sticky glue, Scorpius was proved right. "Two Thursday's time… are we free then?"

Albus shrugged. "Should be fine. The game's before that."

As Albus said it, Scorpius's stomach did a backflip. Their first game of the year was only next Saturday. But at least it was only against Hufflepuff, and they were awful. They were all so kind, though, that he did feel sorry about beating them. Well, except for Daniel Wood - he was almost competitive enough to be a Slytherin. The only reason Scorpius could think of for how he ended up in that house is that he must've been nicer as an eleven-year-old.

"Oh no don't - you'll make poor ickle Scorpius sick!" Joshua cooed as he vaulted over the back of one of the sofas, coming to an uneasy landing next to Alfie.

"And where've you been? Staring at tea leaves?"

Joshua gave Max a loathing glance. "Actually, I've been working on securing my date, unlike you losers. Can I borrow the map tonight, Al?"

Albus shrugged. "Sure. Who is it though?"

"That's for me to know, and you to find out."

"Oh god - it's not Poppy Creevey is it?"

He frowned. "She's still going out with your brother, genius."

"Still?" Albus grimaced. "He said he was breaking up with her a week ago."

"Anyway, it's not Paige Finnegan, is it?"

Joshua shook his head.

"Oh god, please tell me it's not one of those second year Hufflepuffs."

Joshua pulled a face at Scorpius. "What do you think I am?!"

"I think the word for that is 'paedophile'."

"No, it's not."

"Yeah it is."

"No, it's-"

"Oh shut up, I'm not either!" Joshua declared, standing.

"I know."

They all turned to look at Alfie.

"I swear, you could be a serial killer."

"Well, I'm officially winning the race to get a date, friends. Good luck."

When Joshua had disappeared up the Boy's stairs, all eyes were again on Alfie.

He shrugged. "Use your own brains."

Transfiguration class was very, very awkward. It was usually pretty uncomfortable with Professor Henrich patrolling the aisles and staring down at them like a taxidermied hawk, but with Rose sitting next to him, the class couldn't have been more uncomfortable. She shifted uncomfortably every now and then, and whenever they had to make contact, or - Merlin forbid it - speak(!), she wouldn't make eye contact with him.

Professor Henrich finished his rounds of prowling with a spectacular flick of his long dragon skin robes, glittering perhaps green or perhaps black in the sunlight, and came to a sudden halt at the front desk.

"And now we shall move on to the theory of the Candaris Lapurnia spell. Would anyone care to share what this spell might do?"

Rose's hand shot up next to him.

"Miss Granger-Weasley?"

"It creates animals out of candles, Sir. It is chiefly used in transfiguring rabbits, although other such small animals like weasels and possum can quite easily be produced, too."

The professor nodded once. That was almost like being hugged by him, just less creepy. "Ten points to Gryffindor."

He could almost feel the smugness radiating from Rose sitting next to him. When Henrich's eyes slid over to Scorpius, and his face dropped, though, he couldn't help but feel a little pang of irritation.

"The instructions are on page 325. Please read in silence."

Scorpius raced to flip his book to the right page. When Henrich told you to read in silence, you read as fast as was magically possible. He really didn't mess around, which was probably why Joshua had almost failed O.W.L. level Transfiguration.

He managed to make it to the last few sentences when Professor Henrich's voice cracked over he silence as sharp as a whip.

"And what is the projected daily use of this spell, Mr Malfoy?"

It was like his stomach dropped all the way down into the depths of the Black Lake. Somehow, the answered were always in the few sentences you didn't read.

The silence was growing. Scorpius darted his eyes around for help, but none came. He said the one thing he really knew he shouldn't. "For starting an illegal rabbit farm?"

You could've heard a mouse cough.

Scorpius bit his lip to refrain from laughing. If the cringing expressions of his classmates and loathing looks were anything to go by, he'd say it didn't go down that well. He heard a muffled snigger which he knew must've been from Alfie in the back corner next to Sabrina. Rose shifted slightly away from him in his seat. Scorpius still didn't really get it - he thought he was funny! And he knew that he wasn't pin-drop-silence, could-hear-a-mouse-squeak unfunny, either. But Professor Henrich clearly did not think that way.

"Think you're funny, do you? An essay on the daily use of this spell by Friday."

"But today's Thursday..."

"Oh, is it? That's unfortunate for you. I suppose you might have to cancel that joke workshop tonight."

Scorpius slunk further and further back into his chair as Professor Henrich leered down at him from his towering height. Who said that school had to be terrifying, huh?

Scorpius decided not to say anything in response. Or for the rest of that lesson. And for once, the remaining half hour actually managed to pass without incident. He left the classroom feeling miserable; was he really still in a state where it was better for everyone if he just stayed quiet all day, every day? Was he still only allowed to talk to Slytherins - and at that, only the ones who even dared to speak to him first? He wasn't the son of the Dark Lord, his parents weren't death eaters, and he couldn't answer for the crimes of the rest of his family. Did people still not understand that? That they wouldn't melt if they looked, touched, or talked to him?

Albus dragged him from the Common Room that night for Quidditch training. But he only succeded with help, and threats of calling the captain and a not-so-gentle reminder that their first game was only a week away.

They finally made it to the grounds just as the other team members were trickling in, from dinner or lessons or the common room. Naoki Greensmith had been their captain for three years by this point, having taken over from the legendary Josiah Slone, ex-Slytherin chaser and current Wales national chaser. He was their quidditch hero - and Slytherin really didn't have so many of them.

"Okay, team." He clapped his hands and rubbed the palms together in nervous circles, the way he always did before sending them out to the field. "We've got our first game of the season in just over a week, so we've got to get everything nice and tight today. We know that the Hufflepuff seaker's just got a new broom, so play that to your advantage Scorpius, and chasers, you've got a name to live up to. But more than that, we know that they tend to gravitate towards the centre so try rotating around a triangular formation. That way you can keep a close eye on them and watch out for other players to help." As he went through his tactics in very particular detail, he drew it out on the chalkboard behind him. He would've had a chalkboard with him all day, every day, if he were allowed to.

He turned to face Katie Bulstrode and Oliver Wright. Both were heavily built and very strong. "Just hit away from our guys. The Hufflepuffs never cause much of a fight."

There didn't need to be much of a fight there; the Hufflepuffs were rarely much competition, and with the detail Naoki was going in to, they didn't need to worry about the outcome at all.

"The only trouble we're going to have is against Daniel Wood."

He said the name with a kind of malice only usually reserved for 'the bloody Minister', 'final exams', or 'Professor Henrich'.

"That bastard." Scorpius intoned, and there a few quiet chuckles crept through the room.

"He's a good keeper. Very good. So Chasers, you'll need to be on your best performance when shooting. I thought, Amy, since you're the fastest, you should be in charge of scoring." The fourth year looked positively flushed with delight. "He's right handed, so try to score through the left hoop whenever possible."

She nodded, and Naoki put down the stump of chalk. "Okay team, any questions?"

The room was filled with a few sniffles and the sound of quidditch robes creaking as Albus shifted.

"I know it's only Hufflepuff but a little more enthusiam would go a long way."

He sounded just like Scorpius' mother.

Two hours later and Scorpius and Albus were finally trudging out of the changing rooms after having been put on clean up duty again, muscles aching with every step they took.

"You'd think he wouldn't be so hard on us. It's just Hufflepuff - they haven't won a game in four years!"

"They've done better since Daniel Wood joined, though." Scorpius pointed out.

He didn't see it, but he knew Albus was rolling his eyes. "Pl-ease. The moment Leo Black and Michael Palmer actually learn what 'arm muscles' are, then we're screwed. But until-"

Scorpius held out a hand to stop Albus. He'd heard some mumbling in the dark.

"What?" Albus whispered.

"Heard someone. Come on." The pair crept around the small building and peered around the edge.

Scorpius pulled his head back almost immediately.

It was Daniel Wood. And there, standing next to him, was Rose Weasley.

"You do not get to melt on me! Come on, I could use- I mean, I might need to hear this!" Albus hissed at Scorpius, pulling him back to this earth from his nightmarish visions.

"So have you heard about this ball, Ganger?"

"Granger-Weasley." She sighed. "Of course I have, anyway. It's been all Paige and Jasmine can talk about."

"Oh yeah? Are they going with anyone interesting?

"Who knows, honestly. I think Paige is interested in one of those Slytherin boys."

"Not those boys who hang around Malfoy and Potter?"

Rose nodded. "One of the better-looking ones. The brunette one who all the girls snog and then never admit to."

"Shame. They could do better. Even a first year would be better." It didn't come as a surprise but it wasn't nice to hear themselves talked about like that, anyway. But at least Rose gave no reply.

He looked up at Albus who was scowling, and Scorpius didn't blame him.

"Little arse."

"So anyway, you fancy going with me? I could always take you out for a nice spin around the castle afterwards, if you know what I mean." He added with a hollow chuckle that lacked all the confidence it needed.

"Oh." Rose said. "Well, how about this? I'll think about it and get back to you soon."

"Right. Yeah, of course. See you, Granger."

Rose was about to stop him as he walked away but decided against it. She walked back up in the direction of the castle, and Scorpius and Albus ducked back into the entrance of the changing room as Daniel cane their way.

They didn't have time for anything more than a baffled look as Daniel came into the changing rooms.

"Oh. Malfoy, Potter. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"We were on clean up duty, just about to head up to the castle. Want to come?" Scorpius lied smoothly

"No." He snapped. "I came down here to practice, and why would I want to be seen with you? It'd ruin my reputation."

Now Scorpius was really wondering why there was no house for knobheads.

"Right. Okay. Well, we're just heading up." Albus said tersely. He was never great at controlling his anger, and less so when he'd just seen his favourite cousin hit on, too.

"Good luck for the game on Saturday, Daniel." Scorpius said airily as they left.

"You know your cousin, Potter?" Daniel called after them. "Well tell her to think about my offer. Tell her to think very carefully, because I saw her with Jake Andrews last year."

He had a sour look on his face, and Scorpius had to put a restraining arm around Albus just to get them out of there.

"Right. Will do. Bye!"

Scorpius almost pushed Albus out of the door, and there was a thunderous silence about him until they were well past the whomping willow.

"I'm sure it was nothing. I'm sure he's just bullshitting."

"I still don't like it. She's my cousin, Scor, you don't get it!"

Scorpius didn't want to remind Albus of the fact that he did get it, he felt it pretty intensely and he didn't want to think about it either because he'd been in love with her for years.

"He's just being an arse. Besides, you heard Rose. She didn't even give him an answer."

Albus looked at him blankly as they passed through the main gate. "Oh, like she gave you one straight away?"

Scorpius sucked in a breath, but again held his tongue. One more word from Albus though, and he might accidentally get nasty.

The pair paused before the Great Hall, and Albus watched Scorpius through seething eyes, examining him up and down.

"What're you looking at?" He snapped.

"Oh just- I'm going to find her. I'll see you later." And so Albus stormed off in the direction of Gryffindor Tower. Scorpius would've been lying if he didn't say he was glad to see the back of him for now.

Albus only re-appeared late that night when the common room was empty but for the four of them. Scorpius still felt some lingering irritation, but it almost completely abated when he saw how drawn Albus looked. It wasn't going to help any of them if he stayed angry - no matter how good it might feel in that moment.

"Took your time." Max called throwing aside his rather mangled looking Care of Magical Creatures book. Scorpius dreaded to think which beast had mauled it this time - last time it'd been a giant spider from the woods. "Did they almost convert you to a Gryffindor?"

Albus gave an unenthusiastic laugh. "Oh yeah, make daddy proud and all that." He flopped down on the sofa with them.

"So." Joshua asked, looking confused.

"Don't." He sighed, closing his eyes.

Joshua looked at Scorpius and mouthed, 'What the Fuck?'

Scorpius just shrugged. "I'm going to the bathroom." It felt good to stretch his legs and everything, but by the time he got back, he knew he'd made a grave mistake.

Albus, Max and Joshua were huddled around like they'd been having an evil mother's meeting. Even Alfie had put down his book and was listening intently. Scorpius sat down facing them, eyeing each one and their gleaming smiles in the fire-light uneasily.

"You know, you look like you just planned the murders of the house elves."

"Yeah, well, the food was getting a bit shitty…" Max sighed, and Scorpius couldn't help but laugh.

"So." Alfie said, for once initiating the deluge that was to come. And to think, he could get so high and might about staying out of 'drama' sometimes.

"So." Albus grinned widely.

"Oh come on." Scorpius rolled his eyes. "I've never known any of you have so much trouble saying something."

"Woah there, don't prod the bee's nest!" Joshua gasped.

"We have a plan." Alfie sighed, being the only one to actually say anything thus far.

"Oh, right. What kind of plan? Like essays, revision, social…" He paled. "Oh, Arthur. Not a party. Not again-!"

"Oi, hear us out! We've come up with a plan for you."

"Oh yeah?" Scorpius leaned forwards with morbid curiosity and Albus, Max and Joshua grinned between themselves.

"The Rose Plan."

Heh heh. So this is it, where the plot begins in earnest. I actually considered calling this fic 'The Rose Plan', but I decided that I liked 'An Invitation' better. Do you think I made the right choice?

Anyway, please review if you've got time (extra emphasis on the please, there ^.~) and follow for more. Thanks!