Disclaimer: Hmmm. Am I J.K. Rowling? Last I checked, no.

There she was, alone, beside the lake, dipping her toes, in all her red-headed perfection. Rose Weasley-Malfoy. I mean, Rose Weasley. She'd never go out with me anyway, much less marry me. She thinks I'm a stuck-up rich boy, or in her words, "an obtuse vainglorious cretin", just because my dad's Draco Malfoy. I'm sure you know him. You know, pale, blond, rich, wants the best for his only son, good guy, ring a bell?

I bet you're wondering who I am too. I'm Scorpius Hyperion Greengrass Malfoy, the only child of Astoria Greengrass Malfoy and Draco Lucius Black Malfoy, best friend of Brian Jones, favorite student of Professor Minerva McGonagall and a Gryffindor. I know what you're thinking, a Malfoy in Gryffindor? The Hat told me that I could be awesome in Slytherin but Gryffindor is where I belong. At least I won't have friends just because I'm a Malfoy.

"Scorpius!"

"Huh? What's going on?"

"Dude! You were spacing out there. What are you writing?"

"Um, homework, yeah. N.E.W.T. year, this year, you know?" I felt my face burn as I snatched the parchment out of his line of vision so he wouldn't see The Rose Doodles which consisted of her laughing and smiling. I draw pretty good too, so he might recognize her or something like that. I quickly vanished The Doodles and focused on looking anywhere else, just not on his face.

"What's wrong? Did someone call your essay 'a pile of mediocre dung that someone ate and vomited out' again?"

"WE WERE NEVER TO MENTION THAT INCIDENT AGAIN!"

"Well, what's –", he started, but he didn't get to finish.

"MALFOY! Why did I hear that you were practicing spells on a 7th year?" That's her. Rose. She was the only person I know who can pull yelling at me off and still be so gorgeous. She had a fair complexion, pale pink lips, a long freckly nose and, my favorite part, deep blue eyes that you can get lost in (which is why I usually am an idiot when she's around. It's the eyes, I tell you. One glance and you can practically see what she's feeling.)

"Because you have ears?" I tried to joke.

"No, you moron, why'd you do it? What did you even use on him? I heard that Tommy Abrams is STILL in the Hospital Wing and that you did it LAST WEEK. They couldn't even identify the spell, and that was WITH Professor Flitwick!"

Oh yeah. About that, I kind of invent my own spells. Don't ask me how I do it; it's a long process of trial and error. Or in this case, trial and a wonderful success on covering that git Tommy Abrams in moving rainbows and hearts and unicorns. Just a simple "Impudicus!" and voila! You have yourself a rainbow-hearts-and-unicorn-covered bully.

"I caught him harassing a 1st year." I admitted. Rose's expression softened a bit and then went back to being angry (I love her when she's like that. I love her even when she's not angry.).

"That's no excuse. I'm sorry about this but, 20 points from Gryffindor!" She's a Prefect. She can dock points. Prefects are cool like that.

"What about Abrams? He was bullying somebody and all I did was hex him! He was pushing someone around! I thought you Prefects were here for justice, but I guess I was wrong then, yeah?" I can be a bit dramatic but Abrams deserves what he got.

"Fine. 40 points from Slytherin!"

"That's more like it. So, Rose, how are things going?"

"Why are you asking?" she said suspiciously.

"Just making conversation." Please stay, Rose. Please stay and continue our first civil conversation.

"Good luck with that." And with that, she was off to her spot by the lake.

"Dude! You like Rose Weasley? Why didn't you tell me?" Brian always had a thing for knowing what was going on even when people didn't tell him. I'm surprised it took him 6 years to figure it out. And, yes, I'm a 6th year, so yes, I fell in love with her in 1st year. Want to see a flashback?

1st year

"Hey Malfoy, how's your Death Eater father? Is he alright or is he still crying over the fact that he disgraced the 'family name'"? This was Abrams. Yes, the very same one I just hexed. Revenge is a dish best served cold.

"He's fine, Abrams, thanks for asking." I tried the ignoring tactic, but it didn't work so much.

"Oh? What about your shamed grandfather?" he sneered. I hate it when people sneer at me. I hate it when people make fun of my family. I hate Abrams.

"Leave him alone, Abrams." Ah, Rose, my knight in shining armor.

"What's that, Weasley? Your Mudblood mother and blood traitor father had another fight?"

Here it comes.

SMACK!

There it goes.

Rose Weasley, the Amazing, Awesome, Magnificent, Stupendous Rose Weasley, has punched Thomas Abrams, 2nd year nitwit, in the nose, and knocked him out.

"My mother and father are a very much in love, thank you very much. I believe we're talking about your parents here." And with those parting words, she left.

I stood there, awestruck, as the crowd that I didn't even notice was there dispersed. It was at that very moment that I realized I loved her.

And that was the flashback. Back to the present time!

"—tell me?"

"Um, no, I don't."

"Um, yes, you do. Okay, say her name."

"Her name." I am doing this on purpose, just so you know.

"Say, 'Rose Weasley'."

"Rose Weasley."

"There! See it? You smiled when you said her name!"

"No, I did not. Rose Weasley." And then, whaddaya know? I felt my mouth curve into a smile. I tried again a few times more with the same result. "Fine, I like her, okay? No big deal."

"No big deal? This is ROSE WEASLEY! Your parents HATE each other. Of course it's a big deal!" Oh yeah, Brian also had a habit of exaggerating, our fathers only mildly dislike each other. I don't think they ever got past that old school grudge.

"It's not like my liking Rose is going to get anywhere, you know." I tell him pathetically.

"Dude, listen to me. You don't ask anybody out, you make a total idiot of yourself when she's around, you forgot about your nut allergy and tried some of her favorite chocolate, for Pete's sake! You can't let 6 years worth of pining and adoration go to waste! DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!" After that touching speech, he left for the Quidditch Pitch.

Should I do something about it? I mean, she's not going to say yes to a Hogsmeade date now. I need to make her not hate me. I need to show her I'm not a bad guy. I need to be late for classes.

The reason for this is because nobody ever sits beside Rose because she'll make you feel inferior or something. Not a big deal, because usually it's me and her competing for top spots except in Divination which both of us are dreadful at.

Watch out, Potions, Operation: Rose is in action.