Scorpius stilled when he felt Rose abruptly touch his hand from across the table. "Scorpius:" (his heart palpitated; his name sounded like sin on her lips) "despite what you might have heard from any one of my idiot cousins, not to mention my kid brother, none of this is out of pity. I... I really do want to..." Her voice trailed off. Wiggling a little in her seat, she straightened herself. "You were very brave, to ask me out like that."