A/N: This is my first Rose/Scorpius story and my second HP story. Hopefully I'll finish it with seven chapters. Please let me know what you guys think and review! :)

It's quiet in the library, so Rose assumes she's alone. However, when she looks up, she notices a blond head bent over a book a few tables over.

Rose stretches; she needs a break. It may be her first year, but she's already the top student in her class. (She's grown tired already of the comparisons drawn between her and her mother.)

Her eyes dart to the other student again. Despite her father's warnings, she walks over to his table.

"Hi, I'm Rose Weasley," she says.

The boy looks up, and his grey eyes capture hers immediately.

"Scorpius," he responds warily. "Scorpius Malfoy."

"I know," Rose admits. "I just wanted to introduce myself, seeing as we've never actually spoken."

"Right," Scorpius says.

The awkwardness overwhelms both of them, and Rose returns to her seat within a few seconds.

:::

Rose blinks a few times as she looks at the results of the Charms test. This is the first time this has happened.

She's second.

Just as her eyes move to see who took her place, she hears a voice behind her.

"Scorpius, mate, you're first!"

Rose glances behind her, and she sees Scorpius smiling. He's not gloating, just smiling.

She forces a smile too.

"Great job, Scorpius!" she tells him.

He looks at her in confusion.

"Great job," Rose repeats.

"Oh," replies Scorpius faintly. "Thanks."

He starts to blush, and Rose's forced smile turns into a real grin.

"See you around," Rose tells him.

"Sure," Scorpius nods.

:::

Rose bites her lip. She has been staring blankly at the Transfiguration assignment for the past ten minutes; it's time to admit that she needs help. She looks around the library until her eyes land on Scorpius. He's alone, and he's scratching his head.

She cranes her neck, and she sees that he's working on the same essay. Her eyes light up, and she walks over to his table immediately, only stopping to gather the rest of her things.

"Hi, Scorpius!" Rose smiles.

"Hey," Scorpius replies, not looking up. "I'm rather busy right now."

"Transfiguration essay, right?" Rose asks. "I'm having some trouble too."

He doesn't respond, so Rose rolls up her parchment and smacks him on the head with it.

"Malfoy, you could at least look at me!" she exclaims.

Finally, his grey eyes meet hers.

"Sorry," he smiles awkwardly. "I've said that to the last five people who came to talk to me, and they've left me alone."

Rose sniffs, still a little hurt.

"Well, I'm not going to," she announces. "We should be able to get this together, right?"

She doesn't wait for his answer as she pulls out the chair across from him and sits down. For a few moments, Scorpius can do nothing but stare; he's practically blinded by her smile.

:::

Rose is surprised when Scorpius walks over to her table in the library since it's always been the other way around.

"You look like you could use some company," he remarks, before sitting down.

"Typical Slytherin arrogance," Rose teases. "Presuming to think I need someone to sit with."

Scorpius shakes his head.

"No need to trash talk already," he laughs. "The match isn't until next week."

"You're right," Rose giggles. "What are you doing here?"

"The same thing we're always doing," Scorpius replies. "Assignments. Unless you'd rather I sit somewhere else."

"Don't be an idiot," Rose tells him. "You and your brilliance are always welcome at my table."

"Should I pull up a chair for him?" Scorpius asks, raising an eyebrow. "Or can he sit in the same chair as your brilliance?"

"Shut it," Rose laughs.

Scorpius smirks, and Rose shakes her head in amused exasperation.

:::

When Scorpius sees Rose running towards him, he sighs.

"So, my miserable Slytherin friend, how are you doing today?" Rose says, practically dripping with glee.

"Just get it over with," Scorpius groans.

"We beat you quite terribly," Rose grins. "Is your Seeker blind, by any chance? Or is it just that ours is amazing? It was barely a fair game, I admit. You shouldn't even be allowed to play us with that pathetic team of yours. We crushed you!"

She's quiet for a moment.

"Are you done?" Scorpius asks.

"Victory to Gryffindor!" Rose exclaims. "Down with Slytherin!"

"Are you done?" Scorpius repeats.

"Yes," Rose says, with a satisfied smirk.

Scorpius rolls his eyes.

"This is only our first one, you know," he says. "I'm sure that we'll win next year."

"You want to bet on it?" Rose challenges him.

Scorpius meets her challenge defiantly.

"Fine," he agrees. "What amount?"

"Let's leave it open to anything," Rose suggests. "Winner decides what the loser has to do, within reason."

"Sounds great," Scorpius shrugs. "You're going down next year, Weasley."

"Don't get cocky, Malfoy," Rose warns. "Anyway, I'm off to breakfast. See you in the library later?"

"As always," Scorpius replies.

:::

"Come on, Scorpius!" Rose whines. "Can't we study outside? It's an absolutely beautiful day."

Scorpius shakes his head for what he thinks must be the millionth time. It might look sunny outside, but he isn't fooled. It's winter now, and he is in no mood to freeze.

"Oh, I get it," Rose says flatly.

Scorpius looks up, surprised at this sudden change in her mood, and finds Rose glaring at him.

"What are you looking at me like that for?" he asks.

"Oh, look all innocent," Rose replies, rolling her eyes. "Can't let your Slytherin friends see you with the enemy, right? It's a triple threat—a Gryffindor, a Weasley, and a half-blood. The horror!"

She starts gathering up her things, shaking her head in annoyance.

"Rose, come on, don't be that way," Scorpius sighs. "You know it's not like that."

"Why don't you prove me wrong, Malfoy?" Rose retorts.

Scorpius throws his hands in the air in a gesture of surrender.

"You win," he tells her. "Let's go."

"I don't want to anymore," Rose shrugs.

"You're impossible, you know that?" Scorpius growls. "Get your bloody parchment, Weasley. We're going outside to enjoy a lovely day."

Rose looks at him for a long moment, impressed with his sudden assertiveness.

"No need to get all worked up, Malfoy," she says cheerfully. "If you want to go so badly, let's not waste any time!"

Scorpius's only response is to stare at her, half amused and half ready to start throwing curses at her. As usual, Rose just grins right back.

:::

Scorpius sighs and leans back against the wall. His frown doesn't disappear until he sees a girl with red hair rush by.

"Rose!" he calls.

She stops, turns around, and runs back to him.

"I thought you might have gone back to your dormitory," Rose says, still out of breath.

"I thought you might never have left yours," Scorpius replies wryly. "You all packed?"

"Just finished," Rose tells him. "Though I still can't believe it. Our first year is over, Scorpius!"

"It's pretty incredible," he agrees. "But summer should be fun."

He smiles, and Rose grins back.

"You have to write!" she exclaims suddenly. "You have to!"

"I'll think about it," Scorpius shrugs.

"Idiot," Rose frowns, lightly punching him in the arm.

"You already know I will," Scorpius points out. "You've only asked me about a hundred times."

Rose waves that away.

"Anyway, Elizabeth still needs help packing," she says. "So I have to go! Have a great summer, Scorpius. You better write me!"

Before he can reply, she's gone. All Scorpius can do is shake his head and smile.