A/N: Hey guys. I decided to try my hand at a fan fic about our favourite couple Rose and Scorpius. They are forced to spend time together after Scorpius gets into trouble one too many times. McGonagall forces Rose to becomes his mentor. But does she have an ulterior motive for this? The world has improved little since the war, and prejudices are now directed against the Slytherins. But how does this affect the couple? What is going on with the ministry, and does McGonagall know more than she is letting on? This is all occuring as Rose and Scorpius try to learn from each other. Will they ultimately realise how right they are for each other? What problems will they encounter, and how can they get past their own differences and troubles?

Disclaimer: It all belongs to the great J K Rowling

The Headmistress laced her thin, gnarled fingers together on her lap and waited. Having been a teacher for so many years, it was surprising to find that she had little patience. Surprising, but unfortunately true.

This fact was no doubt caused by her reluctance to miss the start of term feast; a pastime that she always enjoyed thoroughly. Of course some matters just couldn't wait.

Sighing irritably, Professor McGonagall rose stiffly out of her chair and began pacing up and down the narrow strip of floor behind her desk. At least, she consoled herself, she would be back in time for desert. After all she had to give out the beginning of the year announcements.

Hearing footsteps approaching, the teacher returned her mind to here and now, causing her brow to furrow with disdain. It wasn't that McGonagall was a particularly unfeeling teacher , no quite the opposite. Yes she was known to be strict, and yes she sternly adhered to the rules. But it was more than that; she was disappointed, and this outweighed her anger. Sitting down again with as much dignity as she could muster, she turned to face the room's entrance just as the door opened with a click.

Avitus Boarg, the school caretaker for the past decade, strode forwards with two sixth year boys trailing in his unpleasant wake. Boarg was uncommonly thorough at his job, that much was true, but his personality lacked any warmth.

At this specific moment in time, his face was twisted into what resembled a jovial grimace, his narrowed eyes darted from the students to the headmistress, eager to witness the trouble that was about to unfold. McGonagall wrinkled her nose up in disgust, determined that at least on this day, he wouldn't witness anything. Giving him a tight-lipped smile, she dismissed him with a thank you, and scowling a little he shuffled out of the room.

Whipping around, she turned her full attention on the boys before her and flicked her wand, causing two hard-backed wooden chairs to appear; after all she didn't want them being too comfortable. Gesturing with her hand she bade them to sit.

Taking in the site before her, she couldn't help but notice that both boys were slightly built, although the one on the right was faintly muscular; perhaps from playing quidditch. He wasn't broad though, and neither was he tall; he sat at just above average, a good size for a seeker.

Though his friend seemed nervous, he instead was smirking. His grey eyes barely concealed a humorous glint, and he flipped his light blonde hair out of his eyes in a nonchalant manner. Like everything else about his appearance, his hair seemed perfect. It wasn't too long or too short, nor was it tamed or wild. Instead it just seemed natural and un-considered, as if he made no effort about it.

McGonagall considered that perhaps he didn't, and not for the first time she realised how much he resembled his father, who had also kept a handsome air about him.

In contrast the boy on his left was thin and tall. His raven locks were curled and looked rebellious, sitting at shoulder length. His Brown eyes beheld his anxiety over being caught. He obviously didn't know how to play it cool, and that in itself was strange for a Slytherin. However, McGonagall conceded that they were also known for cowardliness. Perhaps that was what stunned about Scorpius; he didn't seem afraid.

Peering at them over her glasses, the headmistress pursed her lips. "Mr Malfoy, Mr Zabini, you will explain yourselves."

The corners of Malfoy's mouth turned up turned up slightly, and McGonagall thought she caught the ghost of a smile.

"Well there really isn't much I can say, you know what happened"

The teacher pounced on this, her temper flared up and an angry crimson was blotching her cheeks .

"Yes I know what happened Malfoy!" It came out as a low growl "I know very well that you and Mr Zabini here" at this Leander Zabini sunk lower down into his seat and muttered incoherently. McGonagall ignored this and continued, her blue eyes blazing furiously. "I know that you thought it would be funny to place an bucking charm on a school boat so that it would throw first years out of it and into the black lake!" she paused to let her words sink in. "The question is, do you know the consequences of your actions?"

Both boys looked up at her, unsure of how to answer that. They at least had the grace to look guilty, the smirk dropping from the blonde's face as he realised that no, they hadn't thought of what would happen.

The headmistress decided to press on "What if they couldn't swim? You would be the cause of a death!" Malfoy hung his head, as Zabini squirming in his seat, seemed to have found his voice

"W-w-we didn't m-mean for anyone to..."

McGonagall's face softened, but only slightly "Nobody was injured thank goodness. But do you see how foolish your little trick was?" Scorpius Malfoy concentrated on his feet, his face burning with shame.

"You will receive detention every Friday evening for the rest of the term..." Both boys jerked their heads in her direction "and fifty points will be taken..." Zabini sucked in some air "...each from Slytherin" She regarded them coldly, before focusing her icy gaze on the brunette.

"Zabini you may go, I need to speak to Mr Malfoy here". The taller boy jumped up and backed away hurriedly as if he thought she would change her mind. This caused Minerva McGonagall to give a small smile to herself; she could still strike fear into their hearts.

Before he left the office, she informed him that he would receive notice of his detention on Friday morning. Muttering his apologies he scampered out of the room and shut the door behind him.

Malfoy's eyes met her own as he sullenly asked her "Why do you still need me?"

Her forehead wrinkled, she leaned back in her chair before addressing him, bracing herself. "Scorpius Malfoy I know that you were the brains behind this."

He raised a quizzical eyebrow at her "How do you..."

She held up a hand to silence him, and interrupted. "Please do not insult my intelligence Scorpius" He returned his gaze to the floor as she let out an exasperated sigh "You do realise that you have been in trouble more often than anyone else in the school...and not for small things either!" He opened his mouth to say something, changed his mind and closed it again, resembling a goldfish to some extent.

"You are a very able student, and you have the opportunity to become a great wizard...but you won't if you don't learn to be more responsible!"

It was strange to hear her both compliment and criticize him in the same breath, and Scorpius Malfoy didn't normally like to be criticized. However he knew that he deserved this, and so he clamped his jaw shut.

"You have absolutely no regard for the rules, you do what you want when you want....and I know for a fact that you don't bother to try at your lessons!" She paused before coming to her decision.

"I want to make you a prefect".

That startled him "Wha'?" Again she shushed him.

"I think it will teach you the dependability that you lack"

"But I can't..." He tried once more, nevertheless she wouldn't hear it.

"I have come to my decision and that is done. There will be no arguments Mr Malfoy!" Her eyes blazed again and he shut up, sitting up a little straighter.

McGonagall pursed her lips once more, deep in thought. "There is just one more thing before I dismiss you..."

Rose Weasley sat at the Gryffindor table, her auburn curls tied back from her face, and her dark eyes focusing on nothing much in particular, just happy that she was back. Snapping her back to reality, she gave a jump when she heard a voice and turned her attention back to her two best friends sat opposite her, her cheeks flushing a dull pink.

"Sorry, what was that?"

Al grinned at her, setting down his pumpkin juice and surveying his cousin with his bright green eyes. He really is the spitting image of Uncle Harry, she thought absentmindly.

"I was saying that I can't believe that my two best friends are prefects!" He made a face of mock horror, causing her to hit his arm playfully.

"Come on Al, the only reason you're not is because McGonagall thought you had too much on with being Quidditch Captain!"

He rolled his eyes "Nah I reckon it's cause she knows me too well".

Frankie Longbottom looked at the both of them, a bemused smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Well I can understand Rose, but I sure as hell can't understand me...I mean after all we've done..."

It was very true that Al and Frankie had got into their fair share of scrapes throughout the years, the least of which had been sneaking to Hogsmead in their first term with the help of the Marauders Map that James had lent them.

Still they were good and conscientious students in their own right, though perhaps this was partly due to Rose's calming influence.

Ever since they had been sorted into Gryffindor the trio had been inseparable, staying at each other's houses during the holidays, playing quidditch in the surrounding fields (though Frankie struggled somewhat with balancing on a broomstick, Rose was a chaser on the house team and Al was an exceptional seeker) and generally creating mischief.

Nevertheless, Rose still made sure that they didn't bend the rules too much and, to both the boy's dismay, she also ensured that all their schoolwork was done up to the highest standards. Rose was definitely her mother's daughter in that respect.

Noticing movement, Rose swivelled in her seat catching Scorpius Malfoy entering the great hall, followed shortly by their Headmistress. Creasing up her brow Rose thought to herself out loud. "I wonder what he did now?"

Lily Potter; Al's little sister leaned towards her from a couple of seats away, causing her long red hair to swish over her shoulder and hit a third year in the face ('Do you mind?'). She ignored him and focused on her cousin. Though the girls were two years apart, they were pretty close. In fact Lily was often mistaken for her sibling rather than Al's.

"I heard that he and Lee Zabini bewitched one of the school's boats..." Rose's eyes widened in shock

"He did what?"

The girl nodded, her brown eyes glinting mischievously "Yup. They made it tip out a load of first years into the lake!"

Al let out a snort of laughter but at the look Rose gave him, he tried (rather unconvincingly) to turn it into a cough.

"Do you find it funny?" Her voice was a little shrill and she looked at him incredulously.

"Well I know it's dangerous..." he spluttered out, continuing only when Frankie met his eyes encouragingly "I-I would never do it...but it sounds like the sort of thing James might have done..."

The girl's frown deepened "James would never have done something so uncaring and idiotic! He might have liked jokes, but this one goes way too far"

Al averted his gaze to his juice goblet "I-I guess you're right" he nodded to no one in particular "Yeah it is pretty stupid..."

Frankie joined in "Yeah trust Malfoy"

This allowed Rose to cool down a little, and she glanced apologetically at her friends "Sorry, it's just...that boy is so...." apparently she didn't know what exactly Malfoy was, but she gave a grunt and finished off the last of her pecan pie, stabbing at it with her fork.

Lily smiled at her "It's okay Rosie, we all agree. He's a git!" her cousin nodded with her mouth full, swallowing it before thanking the girl. Rose also mentally thanked God that she and her brother hadn't picked up their dad's habit of talking whilst eating.

When everyone was full, the golden platters of food vanished and Professor McGonagall stood to make her speech, causing a ripple of movement as students turned to face her.

"Good evening all and welcome back to Hogwarts. I would first like to say that I hope everyone is refreshed and ready for the new school year" there were some low murmurs at that, and Rose heard her brother Hugo whisper to Lily 'I don't think I'm ever ready for school!' which earned an appreciative chuckle.

The headmistress waited for the noise to die down before pushing on with the notices. "I am very pleased to announce some new additions to the staff this year." Rose immediately glanced to the teachers table and sought out the new faces.

"First I want you to greet Professor Wood who will be taking over as your Quidditch Instructor". McGonagall's eyes twinkled as a burly looking man who sat between Professor Neville Longbottom (Frankie's father and the head of Gryffindor) and the giant form of Rubeus Hagrid (who took up two spaces) rose and doffed his hat.

"Some of you may remember that Professor Wood was until recently the Captain of Puddlemere United. However he has retired from playing professionally and will now be a permanent addition to our staff." Rose got the feeling that she would like Professor Wood, as he grinned around the room before taking a seat again.

"Next we have Professor Vine who will be taking over as your new transfiguration teacher" A small witch with fly away silver hair nodded her head and waved enthusiastically. "She will also be commencing duties as head of Hufflepuff."

Frankie muttered something about her seeming nice, if a little too cheerful ('Well that's what you get with Hufflepuffs' Lily answered)

"Lastly, though by no means the least we have Professor Yveric who be the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher" an aged and slightly rotund wizard made a bow, his bald head glistening in the candlelight, and then slumped back into his chair.

"Finally I want to remind you that the Forbidden Forrest is strictly out of bounds. There have also been a few items added to the confiscation list, all those interested can check in Mr Boarg's office..."

Hugo grinned "Why would we want to?" this wasn't commented upon.

The notices finally over, McGonagall smiled at school "And so I bid you all a good night, and remember that you will receive your time-tables at breakfast tomorrow morning"

With that the room erupted into the sound of benches being scraped, and students talking excitedly to their friends.

As she got up, Rose happened to glance over to the Slytherin table, catching sight of Scorpius Malfoy looking absolutely venomous. 'I wonder what punishment he got' she puzzled to herself, and then let out a gasp of surprise when he suddenly raised his eyes to hers, his piercing grey gaze holding her for a second. He wrinkled up his nose in apparent disgust and turned away. 'Well whatever McGonagall's set him, it can't be near enough!'

"Rose, you coming?" She twisted around to see Frankie and Al waiting somewhat impatiently and started to make her way towards them, but stopped when she heard someone else calling to her.

It Was Professor Longbottom, and he quickly caught up with the trio. "I'm sorry boys, but Professor McGonagall would like a word with Miss Weasley in her office." They nodded and she started to follow behind him, stopping when Frankie grabbed her arm.

"You don't know what it's about dad, do you?"

Neville made a very sympathetic looking face "I have an idea..."

Rose hadn't had much of an opportunity to go to the Headmistress's office before now, and so when she arrived she took a chance to look around the oval shaped room.

There were dozens portraits hung over the walls, each containing the snoozing image of an old headmaster. Rose smiled to herself as the saw the image of Professor Severus Snape, she knew that Al's father had been responsible for securing his portrait.

Turning around she saw that there were strange magical items dotted about the room, and charts mapping different transformations; people into animals, water goblets into fountains...

Rose was too busy taking it all in to notice that Professor McGonagall had entered the room, until the old teacher let out a stifled cough and the girl whirled around to face her.

"I'm sorry Professor...I was just looking..."

The headmistress smiled at her and moved behind her desk. "Quite alright Miss Weasley. Please take a seat" she gesture to the two chairs which were still present, and Rose slipped into one of them.

"You wanted to see me Professor?"

The teacher nodded "I'm afraid you may not like it Miss Weasley, but I have a favour to ask you"

The girl puzzled over this 'what sort of favour could it be?'

As if to answer this self posed question, McGonagall ploughed on. "You perhaps won't immediately be impressed, but I am sure that you will do very well at it. And I'm afraid that my mind is quite made up..."

Rose had no idea what this was about. Did McGonagall want her to increase her studies? No that couldn't be it...

The headmistress decided to put her out of her misery. "It may surprise you to find out that I have made Scorpius Malfoy a prefect."

The girl's eyes widened and she stared at McGonagall in shock, completely flabbergasted. "A-a... p-p-prefect?"

The old witch nodded at her "Yes Miss Weasley, a prefect."

"But why?"

McGonagall eyed Rose curiously. "I think he needs the responsibility to make him change his ways" the girl nodded, dumbfounded. "But that alone is not enough."

"N-n-no I don't suppose it is"

"This is where my favour comes in" Rose suddenly felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. No. No. She couldn't. She wouldn't!

"Miss Weasley, I would like you to mentor Scorpius Malfoy"

"To what?" she was even more astounded than she had been at the idea of Malfoy becoming a prefect.

"To mentor him" the headmistress explained. "You are the most intelligent girl in your year Miss Weasley" if Rose hadn't been feeling so terribly miserable, she would have blushed at this compliment. "Not only that, but you are good-natured, trustworthy and helpful. I am sure that Mr Malfoy can learn a lot from you. Hence I want you to mentor him. Essentially you will sit and work together in every class, and you will have prefect duty together" She waited for the words to sink in.

"To-together?" Rose gave a gulp.

"Yes together."

"But we hate each other!"

This caused McGonagall to frown. "I am sure that your feelings are not so profound. Anyway as I have already mentioned, my mind is made up and Mr Malfoy already knows."

Rose felt like she was being boxed in. She had thought that this was going to be another fun year with her friends but...

"How long is this for?"

The headmistress considered this before answering "Indefinitely, until I say otherwise." Rose just nodded dumbly. "At least you still have free time to yourself Miss Weasley, and I must say that I am surprised that you are not excited about getting to know Scorpius"

The girl rose her eyebrows in question. "I'm sure he can teach you just as much as you can teach him. All though he really is the most unruly boy, he has his good points" Rose wondered what these were, because in six years of being at Hogwarts she sure as hell didn't know.

McGonagall however, seemed blind to this and just gave the girl a comforting smile and told her that she had "Every faith that this would be a success" before dismissing her.

Feeling a little nauseous, Rose made her weary way to the Gryffindor common room, stopping only to give the password to the picture of the pink lady ('mandragora'). The portrait swung open and she climbed through the hole into the cosy circular room.

She quickly spotted Al, Frankie, Lily and Hugo on the sofa by the fireplace and started towards them. They took one look at her face and the questions came pouring out, which she answered as well as possible.

"She can't force you to do that!" Lily exclaimed, rubbing her cousin's back in a comforting manner.

"Unfortunately she can..." Frankie said, looking at Rose pityingly.

Everyone exclaimed at how horrible the situation was, but really there was nothing that could be done.

Feeling utterly defeated Rose excused herself and trudged upstairs to get an early night's sleep. As she rounded the corner she could hear Al's voice.

"Do you think she'll be okay?" If only she knew how to answer that question.

Entering her dorm dejectedly, Rose tore off her clothes and slipped into her four poster bed, pulling the crimson curtains around her to give herself some privacy.

She curled up into a ball, pulling her knees up to her chest and cursed. Why her? Why was she the one that got stuck with Malfoy? He despised her and she loathed him...it would never work! Maybe if he was less arrogant...but that could never happen. And to be stuck with him for the rest of the year...

For the first time ever since she arrived at Hogwarts, Rose Weasley seriously considered going back home.

Scorpius didn't feel any better, as he lay in his bed, playing with the green hangings. Lee Zabini and the other boys had decided to let him have his privacy, and so he was in the dorm alone. Of course this seemed nice and caring, but he knew that the real reason they left him alone was that they were scared of being hexed into oblivion. Malfoy smirked to himself, wishing that someone would interrupt him...at least it would take his mind off it.

He let out a groan and rolled over onto his back. Why the hell would McGonagall make him a prefect? What kind of twisted logic was that? And then to set him up with Rose Weasley! What had the headmistress been thinking?

She was clearly going senile, he mused to himself.

But seriously Rose Weasley? Miss perfect-at-everything-know-it-all! He sneered. And his father had told him all about the Weasleys....disgraces the lot of them!

Well if Weasley thought that he was going to cooperate, she had better think again! The only thing which mildly consoled him was the fact that she disliked him as much as he hated her.

If only she wasn't so godamn perfect!

A/N: Hey so what do you think? Should I continue? I hope to deepen the relationship between the two gradually, and how I feel it would naturally happen. Of course there will be problems along the way...

Please review, it's nice to hear what you think and tell me what was good/bad or should be improved. Also suggestions are very welcome.

Many thanks, Fiona xx