On the flight home on the van, Scorpius was kicking himself for not kissing her, for not telling her how beautiful she was, for not doing any of it. He barely heard the jokes Gregory and Peter were making. Finally they dropped him off at the Manor. He welcomed the chance to be alone.

Only, he wasn't. He came into the Manor and was passing through the living room to the back stairs when he saw his father sitting, reading the newspaper.

"Hello, Scorpius," he greeted rather flatly.

"Hey, Dad. What're you doing up?" asked Scorpius, for it was one in the morning and his father, at the age that he was, was usually asleep by eleven thirty.

"Couldn't sleep yet," said Draco Malfoy as he folded up the paper. He looked Scorpius over and adjusted his glasses. "Are those my shoes?" he asked, and Scorpius couldn't tell if he was mad or not.

"Oh, yeah, I needed dress shoes for my job so-"

"So you thought it would just be okay to steal mine? As though it wasn't embarrassing enough that you go around in public, serving the people who took away our family name?" said Draco. His voice wasn't raised but the ice in it was tangible. "And in my shoes, too."

Scorpius ran his fingers through his hair again out of nerves. "Look, I'm sorry Dad, I should've asked first, but mum said-"

"Don't blame your mother, Scorpius. Please. You're nearly seventeen, you ought to act like it."

Scorpius nodded. "I'm sorry, Dad. I just really, really wanted the job."

"You think that it's fun? Being a servant?"

"I'm not a servant. It's my choice, and I get paid. Pretty well, too." Scorpius tried to stand up a little straighter but he still felt small against his father.

Draco only grimaced. "Just don't do it in my fucking shoes."

Scorpius was about to say more but his father had opened the newspaper again, and he figured he'd cut his losses and go to bed before Draco got into his yelling phase.

"Sorry. Good night."

Draco nodded but didn't look up.

Really, for a grown man, he sure could be petty sometimes, Scorpius thought. But he knew it wasn't just about the shoes. It was about pride, and his father's had been broken and it was still fragile.

He'd ended up using some of the money he'd saved- more than he would've liked- to buy new shoes. They didn't shine and they weren't particularly smooth to the touch- maybe not even real leather, not that that stuff mattered to him- but they would do the job. It was as if with the loss of his father's shoes, he'd also lost whatever used to make him feel the tiniest bit glamorous at these parties, as if it wasn't so farfetched to imagine himself in the other role.

Then he'd tell himself it didn't matter, because even if his shoes were plain, Rose Weasley wasn't there to notice it anyways.

Until she was. It was mid-August, and Scorpius had started to resent his job a little, started to hate the repetition; the same lady with those loathsome hats, Peter's same jokes, the same smell of garlic, the same absence of the one person he stuck it out for. He considered cutting back on his hours, but he decided he still needed the money, and in his heart of hearts, he was still hoping he'd bump into Rose again.

This was a party for the sake of having parties, and while not the largest event he'd seen that summer, it seemed everybody was there. As soon as he saw one Weasley, he couldn't stop smiling, knowing she would have to come at some point. And she always had a way to make his job more interesting.

This time, she spotted him before he spotted her. He was replacing one empty tray with a tray of finger sandwiches, when he felt a tap on the back.

"You're here!"

He reminded himself melting at the excitement in her voice was not manly.

"Where else," he quipped, returning her smile.

She plucked a finger sandwich off the platter he'd just set down. "You joke, but I went to this other party for one of my parents' friends- different catering company."

"And so you spent the night charming a different working bloke for once?" He loved her laugh, he loved that she laughed at the stupid things he said.

"Hardly." She lost the amused expression on her face for a moment. "Actually, I got piss-drunk, and technically I'm still on probation for knocking over a cake or two," she said in mock-hushed tones, and gestured with her head at her parents. Her mother was watching them, and Scorpius, in his panic, gave a little wave.

"Wish I could keep you from drinking," Scorpius said, standing up straight and picking up the empty trays, "But tonight's a busy night."

Rose pouted. "Come on, can't you have a little fun?"

Scorpius smiled. Who was he to deny the lady? "Look, I have my break at 10:45. I'll look for you."

She made an unhappy expression. "But that's forever from now!"

"Now you're just being demanding," he teased. Feeling someone's stare, he looked over his shoulder to see Ross glaring at him. When they made eye contact, Ross made a throat-cutting gesture with the butter knife he was supposed to be setting down.

Rose didn't notice and continued smiling at him. "Oh, you're right. 10:45. You better keep your word this time." She extended her pinkie, awaiting his promise.

He could only nod quickly and very briefly crook his pinkie round hers before saying a swift goodbye, all under Ross's steely gaze.

Indubitably, Ross came into the kitchen moments after Scorpius. Was it Scorpius's imagination or was Ross really shaking with anger? His unibrow furrowed.

"Scorpius, how many times do I have to tell you? If I ever, ever see you talking to that Weasley girl again, I am going to fire you, do you hear that?" Scorpius tried to mumble out some words of protest but was quickly cut off. "Not even a, 'Would you like a cocktail, miss?' Not even a, 'All of our vegetable dishes are organic.' Capiche? Because it's my business, my credibility that goes under fire when you do stupid things like that. You are not here to make a scandal, kid. You're not here to get off. You're here to cut their bloody flanksteaks and wipe their goddamn mouths with a napkin and a bloody smile." Ross had never been so cynical with Scorpius before. All he could do was nod dumbly. "Besides, she's got a thing going with the Minister's son. If he gets mad, guess who else gets mad?" Ross sighed, his anger subsiding for the time being. "Now get back to work, kid."

Scorpius muttered a quick, "Thanks, sir," and went on his way.

He was conflicted. On one hand, what he wanted most of all was to meet Rose Weasley at 10:45 and maybe kiss her or maybe just be content that he was the one she wanted to spend the evening with. On the other hand, he wanted to tell her not to wait for him at 10:45, even though he knew she'd be annoyed. And then, on the third hand, he knew it was a gamble to even try to tell her not to meet him at 10:45, because if Ross saw them talking, even just in passing, Scorpius knew he'd be out of a job.

"You alright, mate?"

Scorpius turned to see Mitch at the bar.

"Oh, well, yeah," Scorpius said, rather unconvincingly.

"You seem a bit out of it, is all." Mitch was eyeing him carefully.

Scorpius glanced to the right and saw Rose in the distance before averting his gaze down. "It's just-" He couldn't stop his eyes from flicking back to Rose, and Mitch followed their path.

"If this is about that bird, Scorpius, you've got to tread lightly."

Scorpius nodded. "I know, I know… but just why is it so crazy to think we could be together?"

Mitch ran his hand over his scruffy beard, thinking over an answer. "Well, it's like this, Scorpius. When you guys are at school together, it doesn't matter what you do. If you did date, the whole class thing would still be an issue, but it wouldn't be a scandal. But here, out in the real world… you'd be getting yourself in trouble. And her, too. Unneeded attention."

"But she wouldn't care about that!"

"It's not just that, mate. I've tried dating these upper class types. The truth is, we're a phase for them. Working men. We're a novelty to them. She might think you're the greatest thing since sliced pumpkin bread for a little while- the way you have to work for what you want, the way you don't care how your hair looks all the time- but she'll get bored of you. It's just a phase.

Did everybody decide to be a total cynic tonight?

"I don't think that's true, Mitch. I- I can't." Mitch acknowledged Scorpius's crestfallen face with a clap on the shoulder.

"Find out for yourself if you have to. You're a Ravenclaw, you're supposed to be logical. All you've worked for, your whole life, was respect. And guess what? She was born with it. That's the difference." He noticed the sadness pass over Scorpius's features and was quick to tack on, "Cheer up, mate. It's not the end of the world."

Scorpius nodded, but really he was lost in thought. He knew Mitch had to be wrong. Maybe that was Mitch's experience, and maybe there were some differences between him and Rose, some core differences, but after all, opposites attract, and maybe they could provide new perspectives for each other, create a whole new point of view together- Yes, he was resolved. He'd meet Rose at 10:45, screw the consequences. A sudden burst of passion fueled his work.

When he left the kitchen at 10:45 precisely, he was surprised to see Rose waiting patiently by the door, absentmindedly playing with the bottom of her skirt and humming to herself.

"Oh! There you are!" She was positively beaming at the sight of him. He was about to say hello when she grabbed his sleeve. "Come on!" And before he could protest, she was leading him Merlin knew where at quite a rapid pace. Frankly, he was surprised she could go that fast in heels.

She was about to lead him up a flight of stairs when he held back. "Wait," he said. "I can't go up there."

Rose cocked her head. "Why not?"

"I'm already risking my job by meeting up with you. I just- I think it's a bad idea to go exploring around the house I'm supposed to be working in."

She nodded. "You're right. I don't know what I was thinking." They started walking back the way they came. "Hey, you'd really risk your job to hang out with me?" she mused, turning to look at him.

He gave her a bashful smile. "Well, er- yeah."

They stopped walking. In a short, dark corridor, where a cool draft made their skin prickle, Scorpius and Rose turned to face one another.

There was a moment of stillness.

"That's just so very nice of you,"she said rather softly, leaning up and into him.

And then they kissed.

It was everything he had imagined it to be, except, somehow, better. It was ernest, it was full of passion. It was a little bit frantic. He'd wanted it for so long, and now, here she was, in his arms, her fingers tangled in his hair. Scorpius had kissed two girls in the past. He realized now they were imitations of kisses, really. They were ghosts mimicking the real living thing, this thing he was sharing with Rose.

They kissed for what felt like forever. Finally, Scorpius pulled away in order to check his watch. "Oh, Merlin, Rose, I've got three minutes left on my break," he said, trying to straighten his shirt and fix his hair at the same.

Rose laughed and smoothed down what must have been a few flyaway hairs. "We'd better get back I guess."

As they made their way through the labyrinth of hallways, they walked closely enough together that their fingertips brushed, and at the third touch, with a grin, Scorpius took her hand in his, fingers intertwined. She smiled.

When they got to the doors of the ballroom, Scorpius's fingers hesitated over the door knob.

"Wait a second," said Rose, and she pulled him to a side door. It was the large and roomy coat closet. "Just to say goodbye?"

He laughed. "Like I would say no to that."

The closet was a large square, with racks on three walls full of coats and capes and cloaks and furs and the door on the fourth wall. A single lightbulb dangled from the ceiling, and Scorpius and Rose stood beneath it as they kissed.

He loved the feel of her mouth on his. And the touch of her hair and the silky green dress and-

They jumped apart at the sound of the door squeaking open, but it wasn't soon enough.

"MERLIN'S BLOODY LYMPH NODES!"

AN: Wanna guess who walks in? Hopefully I can still surprise you...

Please drop a review, I'd love to hear what you think of my Draco. I'm always wary of writing these main characters.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last one. Your reviews were both very sweet and highly appreciated.

GCP