Sam Jerkins was unnerving. Really, really unnerving.

He was always acting like he was king of the world, which was frustrating — Scorpius was supposed to be in charge of Friday. Yet here was this weird dipshit who no one knew anything about, and it was like everyone but Scorpius had agreed to give the position of co-ordinator over to him.

And then there was the unsettling feeling in Scorpius' gut that he'd met Sam before. His voice sounded familiar...

Scorpius shook his head and pulled his books from his locker, accidentally dislodging something of Tyrell's. Of course, it was just dominos from there on out.

Why the hell was Tyrell his lockermate? The guy couldn't keep a locker organized to save his life. Scorpius stepped back and let the last few objects fall, and ran into someone with his back. The someone let a grunt of surprise and they both stumbled backwards, awkwardly close — Scorpius turned around, an apology fresh on his lips, and his blood ran cold.

"Excuse me," Rose Weasley said coolly, stooping to retrieve the books that had fallen from her arms.

Rose Weasley. That strange combination of red hair and hazel eyes. Freckles. Shorter than him. Chin always up the tiniest bit like she was above everyone else. Pristine uniform. Designer purse. Designer shoes. Rich bitch. Child prodigy. Internationally famous. Heartbreaker.

Beautiful.

It was her fault that Scorpius' mother was gone. Hers. Right? Yes. Her fault.

Scorpius narrowed his eyes, shoulders tense, and turned back to his locker. And then away from it again. "Rose."

She was already walking off — she froze, and turned her head almost imperceptibly. They stood suspended for an immeasurable length of time. Scorpius couldn't tear his gaze away she wouldn't move... the words got stuck in his throat.

"Never mind," he muttered, refocusing on the mess, and she flicked her long copper curls over her shoulder and stalked off without a word.

Scorpius squeezed his eyes shut and waited for the emptiness to settle in his chest again. He didn't care about her anymore. He didn't give a fuck about her. She didn't give two fucks about him. And that was that.

*'*'*

"I really want to meet your new cat, Scorpius," Jessica Mendell informed him. "I love cats. I really, really love cats."

"You could come over after school," he offered. "Walk home with us."

Rose nodded. Her fingers were laced through Scorpius'. "Tink is the cutest little thing, Jess. You have to see her!"

"Awesome," Jessica beamed. "Thanks, Scorpius."

Jessica sent her parents a text to let them know of her plans, and they shouldered their backpacks and exited the school into the bright spring sunshine. Rose slipped her hand into Scorpius' again, and a warm tingly feeling ran up his arm, and he smiled.

Rose and Jessica chattered away about life. A few others latched onto their little group, and soon everyone was chattering away about life, and people sort of just dropped off as they went along. The sun was warm and Scorpius was warm and her hand was warm and the future was warm and God, he loved her.

Seventh grade was drawing to a close. And then, summer. It would be their first summer together. And Scorpius was confident it would be the best summer of his life.

Grandfather complained — oh, did he ever complain. He hated seeing a Weasley in the manor so often, but Father had talked to him and Grandfather wasn't doing anything violent — yet.

Yet.

That little yet was the only thing Scorpius was afraid of at that point.

"What're you thinking about?" Rose smiled her perfect smile at him and swung their arms back and forth like a pendulum.

"My grandfather," Scorpius admitted. It was so easy to admit things around her. She frowned understandingly and opened her mouth to reply, but was cut off by Jessica.

"Ummm, guys? I think we just passed Scorpius' house?"

They had. "Whoops," Rose laughed. Her laugh was like a tinkling shower of sunshine.

They dispersed in the grounds, hunting for Tink; but she was apparently being especially elusive today, because they went around calling her for a good ten minutes, and no Tink.

"Maybe she's inside?" Jessica suggested when they regrouped beneath the shade of a large oak tree.

"Maybe," Rose agreed. "I have to use the washroom. I'll look for her while I'm at it. You guys keep going here."

Scorpius felt a twinge of worry. "Are you sure? Maybe we should all check inside..."

"Isn't your mum at home right now?" Rose pointed out.

Scorpius and Jessica continued the Tink Hunt, slowly making their way out to the orchards. There was a lot of ground to cover. They didn't say much to each other.

"She's a calico cat," Scorpius explained to Jessica at length, as they stood together on the outskirts of the orchards. "Very small and fluffy. She has a huge tail and it's usually waving around in the air. You'll know her if you see her."

"Okay," said Jessica, studying him unfathomably.

"Don't pick her up, though," he cautioned. "She's a devil. She'll probably claw your eyes out if you even try to pick her up. Just pet her. Come to think of it, I should make you sign a waiver..."

Jessica giggled. "I won't pick her up. Okay, you go that way, I'll go this way. Give me a shout if you find her."

Scorpius gave her a mock salute, and she flashed him an over-the-shoulder grin. And they went their separate ways.

The trees here were thickly grown this time of year, and it wasn't to easy to walk through them, let alone see through them, despite the neat rows. Scorpius soon lost any sign of Jessica. He wove in and out of rows, calling Tink's name softly and trying not to get skewered by branches. After a while he paused, listening.

! — a rustling, footsteps... "Tink?" He called softly.

No, not Tink. "Hey, Scorpius," Jessica greeted, coming right up to him. Her hair was very blonde. "Any luck?"

"Nope."

"Me neither. Disappointing," she sighed. "Maybe Rose found her."

"We should go back," Scorpius said. She was standing very close.

"Let's not," Jessica countered. He looked at her warily. She looked at him. He looked at her. They looked at each other. The shadows fell in stripes across her face and made her look otherworldly.

She was a very, very, very good kisser. Maybe if she'd been a little worse at it, he would've pulled away in time. Maybe if the whole thing had been a little less intriguing.

Scorpius didn't mean to kiss her back. He didn't mean for them to really start kissing. He didn't mean to get lost.

Shit.

He didn't mean any of it.

*'*'*

Scorpius felt a hand on his shoulder and opened his eyes, turning away from the mess of locker and looking up at Tyrell Gingrich's angular face.

"Scorpius?" That was different. Tyrell always called him Malfoy. "You okay?"

"Yeah... why?"

"You were just standing there with your eyes shut, like you were frustrated or something," Tyrell prompted.

Scorpius let out a shaky laugh and ran his hands through his hair, shoving his treacherous emotions away like shelf clutter. "I was plotting your murder. I opened the door and all your shit fell on me."

"Oh, right. Well, I'll just leave now..."

"No you don't!" Scorpius grabbed his collar. "I am not sorting this out for you. How hard can it possibly be to keep it at least decently organized?"

"What's up, boys?" Marny Parkinson was coming towards them, laughter all over her face as she took in the scene. "Happy Humpday!"

"He won't do his share of locker organization," Scorpius accused.

"I'm just a kid! I don't deserve this!" Tyrell complained.

"Break it up now, children." Marny leant back and laughed, hair falling from her eyes. "Or I'll cut your supply of tea for a month!"

Tyrell scoffed indignantly. "You don't even supply our tea, I personally get it from — "

"Oh, shut up, I'm totally your main source of income."

"You sold to me once — "

"I sell to you whenever your "connections" are down, honey. So like, every other week."

"Why do you keep interrupting me?"

"Because you keep talking!"

However, at that point it was impossible for Marny herself to keep talking, as she was choking on laughter. Tyrell grumbled something about bitchy dealers and turned away.

"Nuh-uh, you're gonna organize your stuff, Gingrich," Scorpius pointed out warningly, latching onto his collar again.

The bell rang. Tyrell jerked out of Scorpius' grasp and scampered off, calling over his shoulder, "Sorry, mom! Gotta run!"

"Bastard," Scorpius muttered. He snatched up his things, slammed the locker door and hurried off, leaving Tyrell's locker articles strewn across the hallway. Marny trailed after him. She was still giggling when they got into class.

*'*'*'*

A/N: I'm sorry if this is dragging along slowly, I'll pick up the pace in a few chapters. We're nearly halfway through the week leading up to the climax, so hold on tight, because it's gonna get wild.

And happy Easter. If you celebrate <3

~ The Unicorn Queen ;)