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ALBUS: "I can't quite believe you did that either."

SCORPIUS: "Correction, she used to hate me, but did you see the look in her eyes when I asked? That wasn't hate, that was pity."

ALBUS: "You know logic would dictate that you're a freak? Rose hates you."

SCORPIUS: "And yes, logic would dictate I should be pursuing Polly -- or allowing her to pursue me -- she's a notorious beauty, after all -- but a Rose is a Rose."

SCORPIUS and ALBUS run into a room, full of excitement. They slam the door after themselves.

SCORPIUS: "And I'd agree with you -- only Polly Chapman did ask me to the school ball…"

SCORPIUS: "But I asked her. I planted the acorn. The acorn that will grow into our eventual marriage."

ALBUS: "In an alternate reality where you were significantly -- really significantly more popular -- a different girl asked you out -- and that means --"

SCORPIUS: "I can't quite believe I did that."

SCORPIUS: "Rose Granger-Weasley. I asked out Rose Granger-Weasley."

ALBUS: "And she said no."

ALBUS: "You are aware that you're an utter fantasist."

SCORPIUS: "Oh, you will, undoubtedly, probably that new smoky-eyed Potions professor -- she's old enough for you, right?"

SCORPIUS: "And you've got time -- a lot of time -- to seduce her. Because Rose is going to take years to persuade."

SCORPIUS: "Received and entirely understood."

ALBUS: "Maybe you're right -- pity is a start."

ROSE comes past them on the stairs. She looks at them both.

ALBUS: "I honestly thought I'd be the first of us to get a girlfriend."

ALBUS: "And pity's good?"

ROSE: "This is only going to be weird if you let it be weird."

ALBUS: "I don't have a thing about older women!"

She walks off with a smile on her face. SCORPIUS and ALBUS look at each other. ALBUS grins and punches SCORPIUS on the arm.

ALBUS: "I admire your confidence."

SCORPIUS: "Are you heading to Quidditch? Slytherin are playing Hufflepuff -- it's a big one --"

SCORPIUS: "Pity is a start, my friend, a foundation on which to build a palace -- a palace of love."

Neither boy knows quite how to reply -- she looks at SCORPIUS.

ROSE: "Hi."

ROSE: "Okay. 'Scorpion King.'"

SCORPIUS reaches in and hugs ALBUS.

The two boys dislocate and grin at each other.

SCORPIUS: "He's taking time away from the Ministry?"

SCORPIUS: "Ha! Yeah. Right."

SCORPIUS: "A walk?"

ALBUS: "He wants to go on a walk -- something to show me -- share with me -- something."

ALBUS: "Better ask Rose if it's the right thing to do."

SCORPIUS: "People can change. Besides, I've been practicing. I think I might make the team eventually. Come on."

ALBUS: "I thought we hated Quidditch?"

SCORPIUS: "I wasn't sure. Whether we should. In this new version of us -- I had in my head."

ALBUS: "I know, I think it's a bonding thing or something similarly vomit-inducing. Still, you know, I think I'll go."

ALBUS: "What's this? I thought we decided we don't hug."

ALBUS: "I'll see you at dinner."

ALBUS: "I can't. My dad's arranged to come up --"