The Bends In The Road

Fresh on the heels of her quidditch victory, Rose floated through April. As nearly all her friends had predicted, the party in the Ravenclaw common room had worked well to lift her mood, and after spending an evening of having nearly every member of her house, and several members of other houses, complimenting her skill on the pitch, Rose seemed to have returned to her usual vervor. Indeed, to the untrained eye it would seem that the flush of victory carried Rose Weasley through the whole next week, rendering her so thoroughly happy that not even a nasty Transfiguration essay and the constant reminders of upcoming examinations could break her spirit.

Those closer to her knew that the truth was, as always, more complex. The party had, as noted, done much to return Rose's good humor. But there were still several moments, small to be sure, but plentiful if one knew where to look, that laid bare the depth of the hurt she had felt upon hearing that Alec Davies had asked Hera Plumaj to the Victory Ball.

Nathan Nott asked Lucy Weasley to accompany him to the dance and Rose, while smiling outwardly at the pair, had waved off a later invitation to go flying with Maren Thomas, choosing instead to curl up alone in an armchair with her beloved Pride and Prejudice. Later that same week, the much-anticipated forest green dress had arrived with the morning post. Rose, instead of trying on the gown that had featured so prominently in her earlier fantasies, merely tossed it in her trunk without a backward glance.

Despite these instances, the upcoming ball still provided ample entertainment and conversation for the older students. Rose, earlier disappointment aside, was not above taking part in the gossip and gawking which tends to accompany such events, and listened raptly each evening as Allie Boot recounted who had asked whom to the ball.

Rose, for her part, had announced early on her intention to go to the ball alone. The boy she fancied had asked someone else, and as much as it hurt to know that Alec Davies would be attending the Victory Ball with someone other than her, she had learned her lesson the year before about accepting unanticipated invitations from blokes she didn't know very well.

"I'll just share Nathan for the evening," she said to Lucy one night in the library as they all worked through their pile of homework.

"Nuh uh," Maren shook her head next to Rose and flipped the page of her Transfiguration textbook. "I already called dibs on being Nathan and Lucy's third wheel."

Rose frowned at her friend. "Can't I be a fourth, then?"

"No!" Maren gave her an appalled look. "That ruins the whole thing, Weasley. The whole point is to be the third wheel. It doesn't make sense if you add a fourth."

"Ugh, fine," Rose groaned, turning back to her potions essay. "Allie, who are you going with? Can I be your third wheel?"

Allie shook her head. "Nobody's asked me yet," she said, a touch ruefully. "Though if someone does, you're welcome to be our third wheel."

"Thank you," Rose said diplomatically. "If you go with someone I know then count me in."

"Why don't you just go with someone you know?" Lucy asked, looking up from her Charms homework. "Other than Alec Davies."

Rose quirked an eyebrow. "The only other people I know are girls or related to us."

"So?" Lucy shrugged and shuffled her parchment. "Just have Al or Fred be your date."

"Ew." Rose wrinkled her nose and shook her head. "Gross, they're my cousins."

Lucy rolled her eyes. "They wouldn't be your date like that, they'd just be someone to spend the evening with."

"I can do that without them being my date."

"Fine, go alone." Lucy dipped her quill in her inkpot and scratched out a short answer. "I was just saying you don't have to want to snog someone to go with them to the ball."

"I know that," Rose huffed. "I just don't want to be bothered with the whole idea of bringing a date this year. It's been nothing but trouble so far."

***

The girls did get some entertainment later that week as Quentin Collingwood, the gangly curly-haired Hufflepuff prefect, asked Allie after Charms if she would like to go to the ball with him. Allie said yes, her face slightly pink, and there was enough squealing from the four of them at the beginning of Transfiguration over the whole affair for Professor Lyncroft to threaten them all with detention.

It was all just as well for Allie, for that evening at dinner a very red-faced Matthew Corner approached and asked if she would do him the honor of accompanying him to the ball. When Allie very kindly told him that she, unfortunately, already had a date for the evening, the aforementioned Matthew Corner promptly turned to Maren and repeated the question. Maren's yelp of "What?" could be heard clear across the Great Hall, and her face turned a shade of red that amazed even Rose.

Lucy, ever helpful, chose to inform Matthew Corner that Maren did not yet have a date and so there was no reason she would be unable to go with him. Matthew Corner took this as a yes from Maren herself, nodding fervently as he asked Maren what color shirt he ought to ask his mother to send him.

"She's wearing gold," Lucy said with an innocent smile as Maren still looked too angry to properly speak without hexing someone.

And so the evening ended with Maren having an escort to the ball and swearing she would never speak to Lucy again in her life.

Through these episodes Rose, though she enjoyed the entertainment, had felt rather proud of the fact that she herself had managed to escape the drama associated with finding a date. But alas, she was not to be so lucky. One evening the week before the ball was to be held Linus Fleming waited outside the changing rooms following quidditch practice and, in a very small voice, asked if Rose would like to go to the dance with him.

Rose, to her credit, kindly told Linus that while she liked him very much as a teammate and housemate, she didn't think it would be a good idea for them to go to the ball together. Winkle would likely do his nut if he heard another story of two players going together.

Rose felt decidedly less kind the next day, however, when word reached her via Roxanne that Linus Fleming had gone and asked Lily Potter to the ball, and that she had said yes.

"I mean, really!" Rose whined to Scorpius as they patrolled that evening, not bothering to wonder if he was at all interested in this new drama. "My younger cousin! Can you believe that?"

Scorpius, to her annoyance, did not seem to grasp the insult committed by Linus Fleming.

"It seems like it's as good a solution as you could hope for," he shrugged. "At least he's not angry with you."

"Ugh, I know that," Rose groaned, running a hand through her curls. "I just—he asked Lily."

"Why are you so upset he asked Lily after you?"

Rose turned and blinked at him. "What do you mean?"

Scorpius shrugged again and put his hands in his pockets. "I mean you seem particularly upset that he asked Lily out of everyone."

Rose rolled her eyes and shrugged. "Nothing. I'm not." She breathed in and swallowed, glancing sideways at her patrol partner. "It's just annoying. People always seem to pit me and Lily against each other. I don't need people thinking that she and I are competing...especially over Linus Fleming of all things."

Scorpius nodded slowly, taking his hands out of his pockets and cracking the knuckles of his index finger. "I can understand that."

Rose said nothing, running a hand through her hair again and sighing.

Scorpius glanced at her. "Do people often think you compete with your cousins?"

Rose shrugged, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "I dunno. Not too much, I guess, other than Lily. At least not where it matters."

Scorpius furrowed his brow and looked at her expectantly, as if waiting for further explanation. Rose sighed again and continued.

"It's mostly my family and Al's that gets all the attention, you know. Nobody's really comparing me to James or Al but with Lily…."

"You don't get compared to Lucy?"

Rose let out a dry laugh. "Only at school. Other than that, not really. Her mum and dad are a bit more under the radar. And then anyone who actually knows us can see that we're completely different."

"Yeah," Scorpius smiled slightly.

"You're lucky, though," Rose said absently, winding a piece of hair around her finger as they rounded the corner. "You don't have any cousins for people to compare you to."

The smile slid from Scorpius's face. "No, I just get compared to my dad."

"Oh." Rose paused and bit her lip. "I—sorry."

"Everyone expects me to be just like him," Scorpius muttered, his expression pinching as he kicked his heel against the stone floor.

Rose turned her head to look at him. "Well, I don't," she said, somewhat hurried as she unwound the hair from her finger. "And I don't think Al or Nathan or Lucy do either."

Scorpius nodded, glancing sideways at her as his face relaxed a touch. A small moment passed, and Rose didn't know why, but she did not look away from him. She held his gaze, a queer quickness thrumming through her chest as his silvery eyes bore into hers.

Rose bit her lip and shifted her gaze to the floor. "So…"

"So," Scorpius echoed, his voice a mite higher than it had been before. He straightened and cracked his thumb knuckle. "You're still glad you turned Fleming down even though now Lily has a date and you don't?"

"Yup," Rose responded, feeling her shoulders relax at the turn of the conversation. "Honestly. The bloke I wanted to go with asked someone else and…" she glanced at Scorpius, feeling her face heat up. "I learned my lesson last year about accepting last minute dates from people I barely know."

Scorpius nodded, his face taking on the slightly bored expression he had worn earlier. "That makes sense."

"And anyways," Rose continued, "it's not like I'll be all by myself for the evening. Al doesn't have a date, so I can sit with him, and I won't be surprised if Maren ditches Corner within half an hour."

Scorpius let out a cough that sounded almost like a laugh. "You're not furious with him for asking her?"

"I'm just glad he didn't ask me," Rose shuddered. "The one Hogsmeade date was bad enough."

Scorpius's eyebrows shot up. "I didn't know you went to Hogsmeade with him."

"Yeah." Rose wrinkled her nose. "In third year. It nearly put me off of Hogsmeade dates altogether."

"It can't have been that bad."

"He cornered me in an alley, kissed me, and asked me to be his girlfriend."

This time Scorpius definitely did laugh, a low rumbling chuckle that washed over Rose. "That sounds….uncomfortable."

"Yeah." Rose shook her head and smiled in spite of herself. "Like I said, it made me seriously reconsider the whole dating thing."

"Well," Scorpius shrugged, "I hope Thomas doesn't kill him, anyways. Corner's not a bad guy."

"He's a nice enough person," Rose conceded. "Though not someone I would ever again go on a date with."

Scorpius put his hands up. "Fair enough, Weasley."

***

In spite of the pressure of exams and quidditch practices and the drama of finding a date, May 2nd arrived with a burst of sunshine. The Ravenclaw girls spent the afternoon in their dormitory under the watchful eyes of Allie Boot and Carmela the enchanted mirror.

"This hairstyle is going to look lovely on you," Allie said from behind Rose, plucking a levitating bobby pin from the air and sliding it carefully into the side of Rose's head.

"I'm glad you're here to do it," Rose said, straining to catch a glimpse of herself in the mirror. "I really don't know how you get all these charms to work so well."

"It just takes practice," Allie shrugged, twisting a piece of Rose's hair and tucking it along the nape of her neck. She took another bobby pin from the air, waited for its metal jaw to open, and secured the lock of hair. "You really do have beautiful hair, Rose."

Rose snorted. "I think you're the first person to ever say that."

"No, I'm serious," Allie said, picking up her wand and casting a quick smoothing charm on the right side of Rose's head. "It's such a wonderful color and the texture you can get is incredible."

Rose shrugged, taking care not to move her head too much. "I'd rather have your hair, personally."

"Ta," Allie sniffed. "I can barely do a thing with my hair other than pin it back. And blonde hair isn't nearly as striking as red hair."

"It's not all that striking around our family," Lucy chimed in from her bed, where she was curling her eyelashes around her wand.

"Well, still." Allie took the last piece of Rose's hair and twisted it, pinning it in place and then stepped back, her wand drawn as she eyed her handiwork. "Okay, I think it's about done," she said. "Now just hold still while I set it."

Rose closed her eyes and held her breath as Allie waved her wand and murmured a series of incantations over her. She felt the light mist hit her face, and her hair seemed to harden around her head as a gust of air blew towards her.

"There," Allie said finally. "The setting and smoothing charms should last the whole night if you try not to touch it too much."

Rose opened her eyes and peered at herself in the mirror, her mouth opening slightly as she took in what Allie had managed to accomplish. Her hair, usually so unruly and overwhelming, had been plaited and twisted into an elegant knot at the nape of her neck, the trademark flyaway curls smoothed around her face.

"Allie, it looks amazing," Rose breathed.

Allie grinned and waved her wand so the bobby pins fell with a clatter onto the floor. "I told you you'd like it."

Rose twisted around to see the sides of her head, the gentle twists and tucks Allie had created, how small braids swirled around her skull and came together in one smooth knot. The gold eyeshadow Allie had applied to her eyelids earlier shone in the light, and the thin brown liner made her eyes look bigger and brighter. The soft powder applied to her skin subdued her freckles, and a faint rosy blush stained her cheeks.

"Maren, are you almost ready?" Allie called.

"Just a mo'," Maren huffed from the corner of the dormitory, where she sat with her face screwed up and her wand pointed at her scalp. "I'm just having some trouble with the straightening charm."

"Oh, come here," Allie hurried across the floor and drew her wand. "You always make it too strong. I can't do anything if your hair's that stiff. Rose," she looked over her shoulder and gestured to the mirror, "just have Carmela look you over before you put your dress on."

Rose eyed the mirror suspiciously and settled herself in front of it. "Alright, then," she grumbled, waiting for the insults.

"Simply marvelous, dear," the mirror wheezed.

Rose blinked and sat back. "Hey," she said, "I think this is the first time she's ever complimented me."

"You do look lovely," Lucy said, getting to her feet and examining her own reflection over Rose's shoulder. "Do you need help getting your dress on?"

Rose nodded, and Lucy gently lifted the forest green gown out of her trunk, tapping it with her wand and watching as the clasps came undone. Rose dispensed of her Chudley Cannons t-shirt and leggings and crossed her arms.

"Here," Lucy held the dress open and Rose stepped into it, feeling the soft material float against her legs. Lucy stood and slowly brought the dress up until the bodice covered Rose's chest. She took her wand and tapped the back again, and Rose squeaked as the dress came together, the clasps tightening against her back.

"How does it feel?" Lucy asked, stepping back and appraising her.

Rose looked down and ran her hands over the material. The dress settled against her torso and hips, tight enough against her chest that she wasn't worried about it falling but not so tight that she needed help breathing. "It feels good," she said.

"Oh, Rose, you're stunning," Allie gasped from across the dormitory, momentarily pausing her work on Maren's hair to stare. "That dress is just perfect for you! The color brings out the golden highlights in your hair, and the cut is to die for."

Rose felt herself flush and resisted the urge to wrap her arms around herself again. "Thanks," she mumbled.

"Davies will eat his heart out," Maren said, "once he sees you walk into the hall looking like that."

"Rose, will you help me into my dress?" Lucy asked, holding up her blue gown and glancing towards the mirror.

Rose obliged, holding the dress for her cousin as Lucy had just done for her, and watching the clasps come together. Lucy stood tall, the sky blue material swishing around her ankles and the lace sleeves covering her shoulders. Her red hair fell in gentle waves down her back, swaying slightly as she bent to adjust her skirt.

"What do you think?" Lucy asked, biting her lip as she turned to check her reflection.

"You look brilliant," Rose said.

"Oh, yes," Allie chirped, taking out her wand to perform the setting charm on Maren's hair. "You just need some lipstick."

"Do you have some that would look nice?" Lucy asked.

"Just a second." Allie completed the charms and patted Maren's shoulder before turning back to Lucy, bounding across the dormitory and snatching her makeup box. "I think I have just the one, ah, yes, here you go." She pulled out a silver tube and held it up. "Come here, I'll apply it for you."

Lucy stepped forward and bent down, allowing Allie to swipe the pink lipstick on her mouth.

"Lovely!" Allie cried. "Oh, you both look so good!"

"Will you two be ready to head down soon?" Lucy asked, depositing herself on Allie's bed.

"I just have to get my dress on," Maren said, holding up a hand mirror and examining herself in it.

"And I just have to finish my makeup and get dressed, which won't take a minute," Allie responded.

It took nearly forty-five minutes, in reality, for the girls to all get dressed and primped to their liking. But any frustration they might have felt over Allie's insistence on applying four coats of lipstick or Maren's heated argument with Carmela over the length of her dress was forgotten as they descended the stairs to the Entrance Hall together.

Lucy bounded down the final staircase over to Nathan, who was leaning against the wall and staring at the blue dress without an ounce of shame. The pair linked arms and hurried off to the Great Hall, quite forgetting the rest of their friends milling about.

"I guess we'll see them tomorrow," Maren muttered beside Rose.

Quentin Collingwood met them at the base of the stairs, his curly hair combed back and his dress robes neatly pressed. He smiled at the girls and offered Rose a hearty wave before offering his arm to Allie, who blushed and took it gingerly.

"Come find us inside," she whispered to Rose and Maren as Collingwood swept her away.

"We will!" Maren called. "Make sure you sit with Lucy and Nathan, yeah?"

Allie giggled and waved goodbye.

Matthew Corner stood a few paces away, his back against the wall and his face already bright red. "Thomas, I'm over here," he waved.

Maren sighed and squeezed Rose's arm. "Remember the signal," she whispered. "If I ask for lipstick then you have to come save me."

Rose squeezed back and laughed. "Of course. Go enjoy your night with Corner."

Maren glared at her and sauntered off, her heels clicking against the stone floor and the shimmery gold material of her dress glowing in the torchlight.

Now standing alone, Rose bit her lip and scanned the Entrance Hall for Albus, who had promised he would wait for her. She saw him standing with Scorpius in the spot where Nathan had been waiting. Her eyes drifted to the other side of the Entrance Hall, where she could see Fred and James waiting for their dates alongside Zeno and Alec. Her chest clenched painfully as she examined Alec Davies, his hair slicked back and his hands in the pockets of his dress robes as he waited with his friends. Rose swallowed and looked away, trying not to think about what the current scene would look like if he were waiting there for her.

Rose walked over to Albus and Scorpius, giving a short wave as she approached.

"You look nice," she said to her cousin, who wore a set of traditional black dress robes that Rose would bet were a hand-me-down from James. Somebody, most likely a well-meaning Allie, had tried to slick back his hair but it was already resisting the charm, with several tufts sticking up in the back.

"Thanks," Albus grinned. "So do you. Did you have Allie do your hair?"

"Of course," Rose replied, raising a self-conscious hand to the back of her head. "I'm rubbish at all those beauty charms."

Albus nodded. "I can see a lot more of your face than usual."

Rose frowned. "Thanks?"

"It looks nice," Scorpius said, his grey eyes traveling over the twists and plaits of Rose's hair.

Rose flushed and nodded, dropping her gaze to the floor. "Yeah, thanks."

"Your dress is pretty, too," Albus said. "I like the green."

Rose snorted. "Of course you do. Now stop complimenting me. It's getting weird."

Albus scowled. "Why is it weird? Am I not allowed to say it's a pretty dress?"

"It's just getting weird, Al. Unless you're trying to practice for when you actually have a date—"

"Hey!"

"Come on," Scorpius broke in, nudging Albus in the shoulder and rolling his eyes. "Let's go in and try to find a spot before the hall gets too full."

Rose followed the two boys into the Great Hall, looking over her shoulder just in time to see Hera Plumaj sweep into the Entrance Hall. She wore a strapless violet gown, her dark hair swept away from her face in a simple knot. Alec Davies stepped forward and Hera took his arm. They made a regal couple, Rose had to admit. Hera, with her tall frame, commanded the room, her dark eyes fairly glowing in the candlelight. Rose brought a hand up to her neck again and ran her fingers along the intricate hairstyle Allie had created, wishing that she could one day achieve the careless grace that Hera Plumaj exuded.

The Victory Ball began with the usual pomp and tradition. A very smug-looking Booker Wechsler, glasses perched high on the bridge of his nose and hair combed back, led Nadiyah Zhou to the dance floor, followed soon by Professor McGonagall and a levitating Professor Flitwick. The rest of the attendees filled in soon thereafter, nervous boys leading their dates and trying not to trip over the swirling skirts. Rose caught sight of Lucy and Nathan just before the opening dances, huddled close in a far-off corner of the Great Hall, Nathan's arm wrapped around Lucy's shoulders.

Allie and Quentin Collingwood were among the first dancers to reach the floor after the opening numbers, only looking a little awkward as they glided amongst the other couples. Maren reappeared at Rose's side within twenty minutes of the music starting, red-faced and glaring at any male who walked within a foot of her.

Rose followed Albus onto the dance floor as the music picked up and let the soaring sounds overtake her, laughing and writhing off-beat without a care of how ridiculous she looked. She and Albus performed their now-infamous dance moves, much to Maren's delight and Scoprius's embarrassment, and Rose nearly fell over laughing when Albus tried to demonstrate his ability to breakdance.

Lucy and Nathan joined them partway through the evening, asking if they all wanted to sit down for a spell. Rose agreed readily, her face warm and her breathing heavy from the exertion of dancing. They all wandered to the tables that had been set up along the perimeter of the hall, quickly locating an empty one and dropping into seats.

Rose sighed as she sank into the chair, stretching her legs out in front of her and balancing her feet on her heels. Maren sat beside her and Lucy moved to the opposite side of the table, each of them sighing with relief just as Rose had. The boys walked past the table and towards the drinks table, each of them promising to bring back a glass for one of the girls.

"I dunno how those witches in the magazines wear shoes like these every day," Maren said crossly, bringing a foot up and rolling her ankle gently. "My feet are killing me."

"I know," Lucy groaned. "Though they do look nice."

"You and Nathan seem like you're enjoying yourselves," Maren said with a sly smile.

Lucy flushed and folded her hands on the table, her nose going in the air. "We're having a nice evening."

"Mhm, a nice evening. Oh, thanks, Scorp."

The boys had returned from the table, and Maren snatched the tumbler of punch that Scorpius held out to her.

"Thanks," Rose said to Albus who had sat beside her and pushed a full glass in her direction. She took the punch and sipped it, the sweet liquid tasting like nectar to her parched tongue.

They all sat quietly for a moment, sipping their drinks as the girls tried to alleviate the soreness in their feet. Overhead, a song by The Stupefied faded out and Rose groaned inwardly as the first chords of A Cauldron Full of Hot Strong Love echoed through the hall.

"Nathan!" Lucy cried, draining the rest of her drink and grabbing her date's hand. "They're playing it!"

"I know," Nathan jumped to his feet, somehow equally excited about the fact that Hogwarts was playing one of Grandma Molly's favorite songs. "You ready to get back out there?"

Lucy nodded, scrambling to her feet and looking around the table. "You lot coming?"

"Of course," Albus got to his feet, already itching to get back to the dancing. "You haven't seen my new dance moves yet!"

Rose leaned back in her seat and looked down at her half full glass of punch. "I'm going to stay here for a bit longer," she said. "I'll meet you guys back out there."

Maren and Scorpius echoed her thoughts, saying they would stay back for the time being as well. Lucy and Nathan hardly stayed to hear their reasoning, already halfway back to the dancefloor as Celestina Warbeck's voice gained momentum, Albus on their heels.

Rose took another sip of her drink and brushed away a piece of hair that had come loose. "I don't understand how those two are so barmy for Celestina Warbeck."

"I dunno," Maren shrugged, watching Lucy and Nathan join the crowd of dancers. "At least Lucy's got someone to dance with her now, though."

"True."

Rose continued to drink her punch, her feet tapping out the beat of the song against the floor as she caught her breath. Dancing was exhausting. Especially when with Albus Potter.

A Cauldron Full of Hot Strong Love came to an end, Celestina's final notes warbling in Rose's ears. The music turned then, the beat of the next song slower and more melodic. Rose smiled as she recognized it, an old Weird Sisters tune that her parents sometimes played when they thought Rose and Hugo had gone to bed. Rose hummed along as the singer began the first verse, her head coming down to lean against her open palm.

"Oh no," Maren muttered beside her.

Rose looked up and followed her friend's line of sight to see Matthew Corner ambling towards them, arms pumping at his sides.

"I can't do a slow dance with him," Maren whispered as she scrambled to her feet, nearly knocking her chair over in her haste.

"He can see you!" Rose whispered.

"Tell him I've gone to the loo," Maren hissed as she scurried away from the table, quickly disappearing into the crowd.

Matthew approached Rose and Scorpius, his eyes glued to the seat beside Rose. "Where'd Thomas get off to?"

"Er, the loo, I believe," Rose said.

"Oh." Matthew Corner looked slightly put out for a moment, and then straightened, extending his hand towards Rose, whose eyes widened in panic. "Well, Weasley, would you care to—"

"We were actually about to go out there, weren't we, Rose?" Scorpius said beside her, getting to his feet and offering a hand to her.

"Er—" Rose looked between the two boys, catching Scorpius's eye. He quirked an eyebrow at her, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Er—yes—sorry Matthew—" She got to her feet and awkwardly placed her hand on top of Scorpius's, applying as little pressure as possible.

"Oh, I didn't realize—" Matthew Corner stammered as he blinked at them.

"Don't worry about it," Scorpius said easily, his fingers closing around Rose's. "We'll let Thomas know you're looking for her if we see her."

Rose nodded furiously in agreement, trying to ignore the fact that her cheeks felt like a furnace. She let Scorpius lead her away from the table and around the crowd of dancers, her feet stumbling beneath her as she tried not to trip over her skirt.

When they reached the back of the Great Hall, out of sight of the table, Scorpius came to a stop and dropped her hand. Rose retracted it quickly, crossing her arms around her chest.

"Sorry," Scorpius mumbled, looking down at his feet. "I didn't think you'd want to—"

"I didn't," Rose said, looking at the dancers, at the floor, over her shoulder, anywhere but at Scorpius. "So—er—thanks."

"Mhm."

Rose chewed her lips and swept her eyes over the hall, sighing in relief when she caught sight of James and Fred leaning against the nearby wall with Zeno Aylmer.

"I'm going to go say hi to my cousins."

Scorpius's gaze jerked up to her face, and he gave a furtive nod. "Yeah, okay."

Rose bit the inside of her cheek and swept a nonexistent piece of hair from her face. "Um—so—I'll see you—"

She didn't wait for a response before hurrying over to the boys.

"Heya, Weasley," Zeno greeted as she approached.

"Hey," Rose waved, returning their smiles. "Where are your dates?"

"Freshening up," James said. "Zeno's here alone, though." 

“Oh?" Rose raised her eyebrows and turned to Zeno, who shrugged.

"You know how it goes, Weasley," he said with a laugh. "Sometimes there's just nobody to take."

Rose thought of Alec and Hera in the Entrance Hall, and felt a tug in her chest. "Yeah...I guess. I'm here solo as well."

"Did I just see you walk over here with Malfoy?" Fred asked, raising an eyebrow.

Rose flushed and shrugged. "He saved me from having to do a slow dance with Matthew Corner."

"Ah."

"Too bad I wasn't there to help," Zeno said, nudging her in the shoulder. "I happen to be a fabulous dancer."

"Really?" Rose laughed, leaning against the wall with them. "Somehow I would never have guessed that."

"It's true," Zeno said with a flourish.

"It actually is," James nodded.

"And you know this because…?"

"From dancing with him. Obviously."

Rose bit back a laugh and shook her head. "Is that what you guys spend your evenings doing in Gryffindor?"

"There's only so much to say about quidditch," Zeno shrugged.

Rose gave James a look of exaggerated shock. "Really? I thought you could talk about quidditch forever?"

"I can," James replied airily. "But, unfortunately, not everyone can keep up with me."

Fred snorted. "You just drive everyone mad."

The music changed, with a heavy bassline shaking the stone floor before Rose's feet.

"Oh, this is the new Golden Stitches song!" Zeno said, his head whipping up and nodding along to the increasingly quick beat. "I love this song."

"I do too," Rose replied, tapping her foot and wiggling her shoulders as the singer started their first verse. "This whole album is incredible."

"Shall we go out there?" Zeno asked, gesturing to the dance floor, which had grown more crowded since Rose had last looked.

"Yeah, let's go," James said, looking around the hall. "I'm sure we'll be able to see the girls from there."

"And you can prove to me that you really are a good dancer," Rose said with a smirk to Zeno.

"Thank you for the opportunity, Weasley."

Rose followed the three Gryffindors onto the dance floor, which was now nearly impossible to navigate without tripping over somebody. The new Golden Stitches song had drawn out nearly every attendee, and Rose stayed close to Fred, James, and Zeno for fear of being swallowed up completely by the throng.

Zeno, it turned out, was telling the truth about his dancing skills. He had the energy and devotion of Albus but with significantly better rhythm and flexibility. Rose watched and laughed as he performed some of the most absurd moves she had ever seen, somehow making even the most ridiculous movement look graceful.

James and Fred's dates returned and led them away. Rose stayed on the dance floor with Zeno, giggling as she tried to imitate his movements and failed spectacularly.

"You really are a terrible dancer," Zeno shook his head, taking one of her wrists and trying to guide her in a twist. "I thought James was bad."

"You should see Al," Rose snorted. "He makes me look amazing."

Zeno shuddered. "That makes me...so afraid."

"Nobody ever said my family had rhythm."

"Now I know why."

Rose just put her hands up and shimmied around the dance floor, giggling at Zeno's expression of exaggerated horror.

The tempo of the music slowed, and Rose looked around to see the surrounding dancers beginning to pair off. She turned to Zeno, raising her eyebrows and ready to suggest they go find the others or get a drink.

Zeno, however, only grinned at her and bowed, offering a hand. "Would you do me the absolute pleasure, Madam?" he asked in a cockney accent.

Rose laughed and did her best approximation of a curtsy, taking care not to step on her dress, before taking his hand. "It would be my honor, Mr. Aylmer."

Zeno put one hand gently on her waist, taking her left hand in his right, and began to softly guide her around in a circle.

"You know," he said thoughtfully, "it's a lot more fun going stag when there are other people without dates to talk to."

"I couldn't agree more." Rose smiled, thinking just how much more enjoyable this year's ball had been without the bother of a date to keep track of. Instead of worrying over whether the boy she had brought fancied her, or wanted to snog her, or would try to dance with her, she could just spend the night with her friends and her cousins, making a fool of herself and laughing with someone as fun as Zeno.

"It's mad to think that I'll be done with this place soon," Zeno said as he rotated them.

Rose shook her head, looking around the Great Hall and thinking just how odd it would be next year without Fred and James. "I know. I can't imagine Hogwarts without you lot."

"I'm sure you'll hardly miss us," Zeno replied. "N.E.W.T. years are so busy, you'll have more than enough to keep you busy."

Rose shrugged. "I suppose. It will just be strange without Fred and James. And," she added hastily, "you and Davies."

"Ravenclaw might actually have a shot at beating Gryffindor in quidditch."

"Watch it, Aylmer," Rose grumbled, adjusting her hand in his and trying to glare at him. "I will have no trouble stepping on your feet."

"Fine, fine."

They continued dancing, Rose occasionally looking over Zeno's shoulder to catch sight of her friends or cousins with their dates. Lucy had both arms around Nathan's neck, her face alight as they swayed together. Allie and Quentin Collingwood appeared to be pleasantly engaged, Allie's cheeks rather pink as she chatted about something.

"Do you know what you'll be doing once exams are done?" She looked back at Zeno, whose dark eyes meandered back to her as he nodded.

"I've got a position lined up with the Prophet," he said, pride ringing through his voice. "Contingent on me getting at least five N.E.W.T.s, of course."

Rose raised her eyebrows. "That sounds brilliant!"

"Yeah, yeah." Zeno adjusted his hand on her waist and grinned. "I'm dead pleased they accepted me. I was terrified I'd be rejected and have to spend all summer looking for a job."

"Flitwick gave me a bunch of pamphlets on working with the Prophet during my career advising," Rose said absently. "It looks like an interesting option."

"I didn't know you were interested in working with the newspaper," Zeno murmured.

Rose shrugged. "I've been looking at a lot of things."

"Well," he said, his eyes crinkling as his smile deepened. "It's a great place to be. My uncle works there and has told me all about it. There's always something happening, you know, and at the Prophet you get to be right there at the front of it."

"Mhm," Rose agreed vaguely, deciding not to tell Zeno that she really wasn't particularly interested in working at the newspaper. "That's great."

Zeno nodded and stepped to the side, guiding her away from a couple of fourth years that Rose had nearly collided with. "If you want to hear more about it or decide to go with it you should send me an owl," he said. "I'll see if my uncle or I can show you around."

Rose smiled and flushed, touched by the offer. "Thanks, Zeno," she said.

"Not a problem, Weasley," he replied. "Just know that I might change my mind if you purposely step on my toes."

Rose threw her head back and laughed. "Noted."

Rose and Zeno stayed on the dance floor for several more songs, breaking apart when the music picked up again. Rose only trod on his toes once, and insisted it was completely by accident. Zeno finally gave up trying to show her how to move less maniacally and seemed content to merely watch and laugh.

Rose found herself thoroughly surprised with the direction the night had taken. She hadn't realized the ball could be so fun. And really, she thought, she couldn't have asked for a better person to spend the evening with. Zeno was funny, he was interesting to talk to, and he smiled almost more than anyone. He didn't put stupid charms on his hair or run off with random Hufflepuff girls less than halfway through the dance. Perhaps most importantly, her chest didn't clench painfully every time she looked at him. He was open; he didn't confuse her either intentionally or otherwise. There was no mystery with Zeno Aylmer, and for that Rose was incredibly grateful.

So at the end of the night, as the last few songs were played and Rose thought she might not be able to dance anymore for the soreness in her feet, she took Zeno's outstretched hand without a second thought. And when she wandered off the dance floor with him and slipped into a broom cupboard just outside the doors, one hand around his shoulders and the other coming to tangle in his hair, she didn't care about anything other than the warm pressure of his mouth against hers.

The moment was unexpected. The moment was warm and fun and deliciously free of worry or confusion or embarrassment. The moment filled Rose's chest with a thrill.

The moment was decidedly ruined by a sudden glare of light as someone opened and then tried to hurriedly shut the cupboard door.

"Alright, I know you're in there. The ball's over and everyone must be getting back—oh!"

Rose caught sight of Scorpius's very pink face through the crack in the door and quickly detached herself from Zeno.

"Er—" she opened the door and stepped out, smoothing her skirt and patting her rumpled hair awkwardly as Zeno clambered out behind her. "Malfoy-we're just-"

Scorpius stood in front of her, his mouth working furiously and one hand rubbing the back of his neck. "I just heard—" he gestured stiffly to the broom cupboard, whose door still sat ajar. "The dance is over."

"R-right," Rose stuttered. She turned to Zeno, who had the decency to look abashed. "Well—er—I'd better—"

"We'd better both be getting back," Zeno said, giving her a small smile.

Rose nodded and smiled gratefully at him. "Have a good night, Zeno," she said, reaching out and squeezing his hand.

"You too, Rose." He turned and ambled back toward the hall, no doubt to find his friends.

Rose turned to Scorpius, who was resolutely examining his cuffs. "Er—we can go back if—"

"Right." Scorpius walked beside her as they began the trek back to Ravenclaw Tower, a stream of students exiting the Great Hall behind them. His posture remained stiff, his expression placid.

"Did you have a good evening?" Rose asked in a squeaky voice, searching for some strand of conversation to pull her out of the horribly awkward silence.

Scorpius shrugged. "It was alright."

"That's...good."

He looked sideways at her. "So you and Aylmer—?"

It was Rose's turn to shrug, her face flaming as she examined her fingernails. "It was nothing really. It just kind of happened."

"Right."

They passed the rest of the walk in silence, save for Scorpius's mumble when Rose stopped on the fourth floor to remove her shoes. When they arrived at the Ravenclaw common room, Rose's shoes dangling from her hand and Scorpius's face still faintly pink, they stopped at the base of the dormitory staircase.

"Er—well—" Rose bit her lip and glanced at him. "Thanks for walking with me."

"Not a problem," Scorpius said, rubbing the back of his neck and looking around the room.

"Do you think the others are back yet?"

Scorpius shrugged.

"Well—" Rose searched for something to say.

"We'd best get to bed," Scorpius said without looking at her, cracking a knuckle and turning towards the staircase.

"Right." Rose swallowed and nodded. "Well, goodnight then."

He started up the stairs, pausing for a moment and looking over his shoulder at her. His grey eyes had softened, and he wore a peculiar expression on his face. He looked tired, almost sad, the crease between his eyebrows appearing as though he wanted to ask her a question.

"Goodnight, Weasley."