Notes: Just a short vignette exploring the tantalising possibility of Scorpius/Hermione. I love SS/HG... why shouldn't we encourage a younger man with an older witch from time to time, yes?

He's tall, blond and sharply beautiful, like his father and his grandfather, but there is no taint of bitterness or ice in his grey eyes. He's standing too close to her, watching her with the intent earnestness of youth. She moves deeper into the alcove's shadows, and his body follows hers. Despite herself, her heart flutters at her throat, her stomach tightens into a knot.

"You're a child, Scorpius," she whispers fiercely, clutching her stack of teaching notes to her chest like a shield. "You should be dating a girl your own age." Somebody like my Rose...

"I don't want a girl; I want a woman," he insists. His full and youthful lips curve downwards into a sullen pout. "And I am of age, you know," he adds, reaching to brush a long, elegant finger down her arm. A race of goosebumps shiver across her skin and something liquid and heavy winds through her blood.

"Get to class," she tells him.

"Yes, ma'am," he drawls, and a dimple dips into his smooth cheek as he smiles at her.

She pushes past him--he leans into her rather than stepping aside--and as she strides away to teach her fourth-year Transfigurations class, her arm still tingles with awareness and magic.