This was one of my favorite chapters to write, I wanted to write a scene with Rose in class, but the overall chapter changed quite a bit from when I came up with it a few weeks ago.

Chapter 5

The first Thursday after the start of term was, quite possibly, the worst day of Rose Weasley's life. To start of the day she had woken up late and waking up to find your magical alarm clock screaming at you "you're late, you're late" was not exactly how she wanted to start her day. To add to her already frazzled mood she had pretty much missed breakfast and only had enough time to grab a piece of toast and a glass of pumpkin juice before heading for her first class. She hoped no one would notice her grumbling stomach.

Rose thought most of her troubles were over for the morning and they probably would've been if it hadn't been for Herbology.

She trudged with the rest of the Gryffindors towards the greenhouses where Professor Longbottom was waiting for them. Today they had Herbology with the Slytherins; she wouldn't mind if this if it hadn't been for Scorpius Malfoy.

She hadn't quite made her mind up about Scorpius since they had met (awkwardly) on the train. From what she had observed he and Albus were as thick as thieves now, which she didn't really care about they were in the same house so it was just as well, but there was something about the other boy that made her vaguely nervous.

Of course, as was her habit in such situations the logical part of her brain kicked in, something, no doubt, she had gotten from her mother.

Are you crazy? A voice in her head and said in an annoying tone that reminded her of the vocal alarm on her watch or the charmed planners she used, you're only 11… Well, 11 and three quarters, why should you worry about a boy? It was the same question Rose asked herself every time she saw Scorpius before quickly shoving the thoughts out of her mind again.

She was still turning this over here mind on the way to the greenhouses, only vaguely watching as James and his friends along with a few more of her cousins ran ahead. She followed behind, lugging her school bag over one shoulder.

Today, Professor Longbottom, (Neville to her family when she wasn't in school) was giving a lesson on Boobertubers. While he lectured Rose buried her nose in her textbook trying to avoid eye contact with Scorpius who was across the aisle from her. She had done such a good job of avoiding him that she hadn't been paying attention to what she was doing and knocked over a bowl of pus which in a matter of seconds had given her a number of nasty boils.

Professor Longbottom gave her a brief disapproving look, but he only looked resigned and vaguely disappointed.

"Rosie, I told you to put your gloves on and pay attention. You should know better than that."

Rose studied her shoes, feeling her ears burn.

"Yes Sir," she mumbled meekly, "I'm sorry Sir, it won't happen again."

Professor Longbottom paused before calling out a couple of names.

"Potter, Malfoy," he gestured to Albus and Scorpius. "Please take Ms. Weasley to the Hospital Wing… All three of you see me later about the homework." He gave them a stern look that didn't quite fit his friendly face before sending them on their way.

The three of them awkwardly made their way up to the Hospital Wing without saying a word. Rose didn't look at Scorpius or her cousin, who had both been shooting her sympathetic looks before and after her scolding from the Herbology professor. Rose was quite sure when the fire on her face (or her entire skin for that matter) wouldn't go out anytime soon. To be escorted by the one boy she didn't really want to be around was awkward enough.

She said quietly while Madame Pomfrey treated her boils. Albus and Scorpius sitting nearby. Scorpius occasionally gave her sympathetic smile, but he hadn't spoken since they had left the greenhouse. It was as if he was trying to say is much as he could without actually speaking.

Rose left to the Hospital Wing a short time later with a potion she was supposed to take for the next 8 to 12 hours. It was mostly a painkiller, but the nurse said it would help with the inflammation has the boils continued to heal.

It wasn't until after lunch Scorpius who had been talking to Al before their afternoon class, came up to her.

"Look," he said, "I'm sorry you were hurt this morning, but you got to be more careful… You heard what Longbottom said. You don't strike me as someone who gets easily distracted. What's with you anyway Weasley?"

Rose flushed as Scorpius sauntered away before she could answer. Talk about a backhanded compliment. Rose still stuck to her assessment she had come to that morning, one minute he seemed like a sweet sensitive person and the next minute he said something vaguely insulting. She could tolerate him for Al's sake, they seem to be fast friends from what she could tell, but that didn't mean she had to like him.

Rose glanced at her watch, she still had twenty or thirty minutes before her next class; that was just enough time to see Professor Longbottom in his office about the homework she had missed that morning. That was the last time she let someone as unimportant as Scorpius Malfoy distract her.