Scorrose

ten

A/N: For some reason, I thought of this song while writing this chapter. Take a listen if interested!

Once they were on the floor, Rose didn't quite know what to do. Thankfully, Scorpius took the initiative, putting his arms around her waist, and she gingerly rested her arms on his shoulder. All the other couples were swaying with their bodies pressed together, although she made a point to keep a foot of distance between the two of them.

Where was she supposed to look? It was one thing to do a waltz that she knew all the steps to, to move her feet without the burden of holding a conversation, but a slow dance was something else entirely. She decided to focus on a spot just above his shoulder, although she could feel his eyes on her face.

"So, Rose Granger-Weasley," he said formally, a hint of teasing in his voice. "What in Merlin possibly possessed you to say yes to dancing with me?"

"Peeves, probably," she muttered.

From her periphery, she noticed him give a small smile.

"Really?"

"If you keep asking stupid questions, I'll walk off," Rose said, and she wasn't sure whether she was kidding or not. She didn't know the answer to his question herself.

"Okay, okay," he said quickly, but after a short pause, added, "But it's not really a stupid question, is it? You never say yes."

She sighed. "It's just one dance, Scorpius. Don't make it into a big deal."

"I'm not."

"Good."

"But can you—" He cleared his throat almost bashfully. "I don't know, move a little closer, maybe. We look like we're eleven-year-olds, having a dance for the first time." He nodded to the space between them.

She moved her gaze from his shoulder to his face. His eyes were as blue as the bellflowers that sometimes grew near the edge of the Forbidden Forest, framed by blond lashes only a shade darker than his hair, his irises indigo around the edges. She couldn't remember a time she had ever seen him so up close, not for such an extended amount of time. Something about this proximity was making it hard for her to think clearly.

She inched closer so that the empty space decreased by half the size. Her fingers brushed against the hair at the nape of his neck, feathery and soft. She had always sort of wondered how his hair felt.

"Thanks," he said.

"Yeah." She was finding it a challenge to hold onto his gaze, but she resisted the temptation to look away.

The violin swelled to a crescendo as the front singer sang a raspy, soulful tune. Rose listened intently. She couldn't make out what the song was about, or the specific lyrics, but the man's voice was so smooth and full of longing that she was feeling prickles of melancholy from it.

"I don't know if I've told you," Scorpius said, when the song became soft again, "but you look..."

"Like a Slytherin?" She said.

"Pretty," he finished. "But that too."

"Oh." She blinked, cheeks feeling warm. "I mean, thanks. You too."

"I look pretty?" He smiled. "That's a new one. Thanks."

Rose rolled her eyes. "Shut up. You know what I mean."

"No, actually, I think I might need you to clarify."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "You look nice," she said, trying to sound as exasperated as she could.