The rest of the group-bonding session, or whatever it was, passed with nothing much to comment on, except Scorpius slipping in and out of snobbishness.
Rose and Lucy desperately tried to work together and teach the boys about simple potions, but it was at times like these when Scorpius decided that he was above this.
"Look, Scorpius, you're supposed to be group leader! At least put in some effort!" Rose exclaimed angrily
"We're not on first name terms yet, Weasley," he glowered, although the corner of his mouth was turned up in amusement.
"Malfoy, we need to talk," Rose stood up and walked to the corner of the Hall, unnoticed by most other students, as they were milling around themselves, running backwards and forwards from their common rooms with useful books.
With a sigh, that clearly said he was above this, Scorpius stood up and joined Rose in the corner.

"What is it, Weasley?"
"We have to be on first name terms, Scorpius, or how are we going to know which Weasley you're talking to, it could be me or Lucy! Not to mention the fact that this Challenge is supposed to make people from different houses become friends- how are we supposed to do that if you won't use my first name?"
"Who says we need to be friends? Or that I want to be friends?"
"You did. Yesterday, you asked for a truce. Right now, I'm wishing I'd said yes to that."
Rose could've sworn that Scorpius' eyes lit up, just for a second, "You do? I mean- it's a bit late for that now Weasley. I'm not one to offer a truce again, if you've already said no. My pride prevents me."
Rose almost screamed in frustration. "Come on, Scorpius! Get a grip! Who cares about your 'pride'? What I care about is winning this Tournament, and so should you!"
"See, this is the problem, Weasley. You only want us to be 'friends' so you can win this stupid Challenge, and I don't care about the Challenge. I didn't offer a truce so we'd win, I'll admit it: I wanted to be friends with you! Only because you're a dangerous enemy, Weasley, as much as it pains me to admit it. But you laughed at me, so how do you reckon I feel now? Willing to make up with you just so we can win? No way."
Rose pondered this. He was right, she supposed. She hadn't wanted to make a truce with him because he was Scorpius, and he was a dickhead, but now she wanted to be friends so they could win. That was shallow and cruel, she thought, and Rose knew that she'd hate to be treated that way. But she couldn't shake the feeling that she actually wanted to be friends with Malfoy. It sounded insane even in her head, but since Rose and her cousins had jinxed him on the train, he seemed like a nicer person. Not nice like her friends were, but definitely nicer.
Rose couldn't admit that. If Scorpius thought he was becoming soft, this year would be a living nightmare.
"Well, let's be hypothetical. Let's say that I rejected your offer of a truce because our family history made it seem like my only choice. But what if, since then, I realised that if I want to stop fighting with someone, I shouldn't care about what's happened before. It's all water under the bridge after all." She looked up at him hopefully.
"But is that true, Weasley, or are you just making a fool of me?" He asked quietly, and Rose could've sworn that Scorpius looked hurt! Offended, even. Malfoy never got upset by insults; he simply threw them back at whoever was arguing with him. And Rose hadn't even insulted him yet! What had happened to the Scorpius she knew and hated?
Rose didn't want to be the one to admit that she'd been wrong, but if she was to work well with Scorpius for the rest of the year, it might be her only choice.

She took a deep breath, "No, it's true. I said no because I was still offended from the train incident, but I shouldn't have been. We definitely repaid you for that one." Her eyes glinted with the memory of jinxing Malfoy into an unconscious green mess in the corridor, before realising that it probably wasn't the most tactful thing to remind him of when they were trying to get along for a change. "I mean, I shouldn't have said no to your offer of a truce, but not because of the competition, because there's no point in this constant arguing." She took another deep breath, "So, even if your pride prevents you from offering another truce, I really hope it doesn't stop you accepting one." Her voice held no hatred, only hope, as she held out her hand tentatively, "How about we put our differences aside, and work together for a change, Scorpius?"

He looked from her outstretched hand to her deep brown eyes, framed by her ginger locks of curly hair. He considered. How could anyone say no to a face like that?
"I'll give it a try. I won't insult you, as long as you return the favour for me," he grimaced slightly, as if being on first name terms with Rose pained him "Rose,"
She smiled.

Once back in the dorm that night with Molly, Rose explained what had happened with her and Scorpius. It was hard to judge Molly's expression, as she had her poker face on.
"You can't just sit there!" Rose cried in frustration, "At least tell me what you think! Have I done the right thing?"
"I'm not sure... It'll mean that you two will be able to work together better, but Al will go mental,"
"Who says that he has to know?"
"He'll find out when he sees you and Malfoy as best buds."
"Hah. Yeah, right. Let's see if Scorpius keeps to his word first."

*Meanwhile, in the Slytherin dorms*

"That Potter boy's a right idiot," said Alex Flint, leaning on the corner of his four-poster.
"Well, at least he's not a know it all like Rose," Malfoy assured his friend whilst climbing into bed.
"Did you just use Weasley's first name?" Flint was wearing an expression of shock, anger and amusement combined.
"Erm... yeah. We made an agreement to use each other's first names and try to get along." He saw Flints disbelieving expression "Don't look at me like that! It's only so we can win the tournament!"
"Are you sure?" Alex asked.
"What d'you mean?"
"Well, she wouldn't be the first girl to fall for your arrogant charm," Flint joked.
"Rose doesn't like me! She hates me more than you understand!" Scorpius spat.
"I really doubt that."
"What makes you so good with judging girls feelings?"
"I'm not, generally, but, like I said, lots of girls do like you, Scor', and I think Rose might end up being another of those, if you're lucky,"
"What do you mean 'if I'm lucky'?" snapped Scorpius.
"Well, she's quite fit, isn't she? But she doesn't strike me as the sort who'd want to be bothered with trying to win anyone over. I guess if you want her, you'll have to go get her."
"Where's this come from, Flint?! I don't want anyone, least of all Rose Weasley! Now I'm going to sleep. Goodnight."

But Scorpius couldn't sleep.
He had Flint's voice saying 'she's quite fit, isn't she?' going round in his head, along with Rose's eyes as she suggested that they 'put aside their differences'.
It was stupid, he knew that, but telling himself that didn't help him sleep.
She was just a Gryffindor, even if she was slightly smarter than average, and extremely pretty...
No. He had to stop thinking like this.
He didn't care about her- she was just a rung on the ladder... the ladder to winning the Tournament, yeah, that was all, that was it...