It was dinner time on the first day of my fourth year back at Hogwarts. All the first years had already went through the sorting hat and were now eating dinner with their house mates. I sat at the Gryffindor table with the rest of my family. Albus and Lily were in deep convocation, Roxy and Dom (who are in Ravenclaw) and Lucy were giggling about a cute boy in Hufflepuff, Molly was reading a book, Fred and James were laughing about some joke one of their friends made. Louis (Who is in Hufflepuff) and Hugo were discussing Chess.
I was looking around at all the new kids at the other tables when I noticed a boy from Slytherin table was being messed with by Scamander twins.
Those boys were always picking on someone. They are so sweet when they are not jerks, which is rare.
I took a drink of my water then stood up. Lily looked up as well.
"Where are you going Rose?"
"I will be back in a few." I could tell that wasn't the answer Lily wanted, but she would have to deal with it for the moment. I walked over to the Slytherin table and could now see who the Scamander's victim was…Scorpius Malfoy. He was always extremely quiet. He never got out of line or talked back to a teacher or even messed with anyone. He stayed to himself, always sitting in the corner of the library, or sitting at the end of the table at dinner. He never tried to bring any attention to himself but in him doing all those things, always caught my attention.
He was the opposite of his father. But that didn't stop people from picking on him. It was really bad the first two years, they tried to get him riled up and get him angry but he never did. There was once a rumor that he threatened a 7th year. But no one knew what it was about or even if its true.
I have seen it before, people picking on him, but I suppose I was never brave enough to tell the people off. Which is ironic since I am in Gryffindor. But this year was different. I was more confident this year and it was time someone took a stand against people picking on Malfoy.
I walked up behind the Scamander twins and plucked the book they took from Scorpius out of Lysander's hands. I could always tell the two brothers apart. Lysander was more built and always parted his hair to the left. Lorcan always parted his hair to the right and was a bit taller than his brother. Lysander whipped around with a scowl to see who took the book from his hand. His facial expression softened when he saw it was me.
"Hey Rose! How are you? I haven't gotten to say hi to you yet." Lysander said with a big grin.
"Im fine Lysander. Hello Lorcan." I smiled at both of them. "What are you two doing?"
"Oh you know us, just making new friends, isn't that right Malfoy?"
Scorpius was moving his food around on his plate.
"The bestest of friends." Mumbled Scorpius.
A flash of anger flashed over Lorcan's face at Scorpius'es sarcasm.
"What was that Malfoy?" Lorcan growled.
"Nothing." He answered, taking a swing of his pumpkin juice.
"Yeah, I thought so."
"Hey, why don't you two chill out and go eat your dinner? I Said with a raised eyebrow.
They both turned and looked at me. Giving me their most innocent looks.
"What Rose? We were just having fun here with ferret here." Said Lorcan.
"Don't call him that." I huffed. Scorpius turned to look at me with a shocked expression but he covered it quickly.
"Since when did you decide to take an interest in Malfoy?"
I crossed my arms over my chest and took a step closer to them.
"Since now."
"But why?"
"Because I can, and you two need to stop bullying people in general."
"But Rose, we were having fun. Just innocent play." Lysander said, throwing his arm over my shoulder.
"How is your mum doing? You know, I haven't heard from her in awhile." Lysander took his arm away from my shoulder and slowly shaking his head, predicting what I would say next. "I really think she would love to get a letter from me. But you know how your mum is, if I send her a letter she will send one back asking questions about school and such," They both shifted their feet. "And she would ask how her favorite boys were doing. And you both know that she loves detail." I quirked an eyebrow. I heard Scorpius laugh but quickly covered it up with a cough. i could feel a smile tug at my lips but didn't let it spread.
"You know, I think we are going to head back to our table. See you later Rose." They both gave another glare at Scorpius then turned around and sat at the Hufflpuff table.
I slid into the seat beside Scorpius and handed him his book.
"I believe this is yours."
"Yeah, thanks." He took it and sat it on the other side of him.
"I don't think we have officially met. Im Rose Weasley." I stuck my hand out for him to shake but he just stared at it then looked up into my eyes. His silver eyes were so bright and intense.
"Don't take this the wrong way, but what are you doing over here Weasley?"
I was taken aback. I dropped my hand into my lap.
"I just noticed the Scamander twins were picking on you and thought…" I looked away.
"I can handle them just fine." I looked back into his eyes. "But thanks anyway Weasley." He said with a nod.
I nodded my head then stood up.
"Its Rose."
"What?"
"My name is Rose. Not Weasley." And with that I turned around and walked back to my table. I could feel most of the Halls eyes were on me but tried to ignore it.
"What was that all about?" Lily asked once I sat back down.
I shrugged my shoulders and mumbled 'nothing' before buttering some bread.
"It looks like someone doesn't think it was just 'nothing'." Lily nodded over my shoulder, I fallowed her gaze to see Scorpius staring at me. He turned around quickly, ducking his head. I felt my heart skip for a half a second.
A week later I was sitting in the library reading up on some stuff for Potions. Suddenly someone dropped their books on my table, startling me. I looked up and into silver eyes. Scorpius.
"Why?"
"Why what?" I asked shaking my head in confusion.
"Why did you talk to me on the first day back here?"
I leaned back in my chair and crossed my arms. He didn't seem angry, just seriously curious. I studied him for a moment. He had dark circles under his eyes from lack of sleep, a scar on his chin, his hair was a bit too long-hanging in his eyes. He had broad shoulders that seemed to stretch his shirt a bit.
"I already told you, the Scamander- "
"Why this year? Why not in the last three years? What changed?" he asked with true curiosity
I thought about this for a few moments.
"I did. I changed, I guess I finally grew into the Gryffindor name and stood up for someone."
"I don't need someone to stand up for me Weasley. I can take care of myself." He said with a scowl.
Him saying my last name like that flared my anger. I shoved my chair back and stood up.
"Well im sorry Malfoy." I said a little louder than I meant to. I looked around to see a few glares from other students. When I turned back to Malfoy, I lowered my voice. "But you will just have to get over it."
"Excuse me?" he asked defensively.
"You will have to get over someone actually standing up for you since you're not going to stand up yourself."
He set his jaw and narrowed his eyes.
"Im standing up for myself just fine."
"Oh really? How so? All you ever do is sit there and take it."
"What else do you except me to do?" His eyes showed his vulnerability, his anger, and his misery. "If I stand up to all these jerks, then they will just put me under the same category as my father. And I don't want that! Im nothing-nothing like my father." He growled.
"I know your not." I said softer as I sat down. "But you shouldn't be called weak or a chicken either."
"Its better than being called other things. I don't mind it now."
"But you did." I stated more than asked.
"Yes. I hated it then but now I know its for the best." He shifted his books around. "Do you relies you are the only person since I have gotten here to actually talk to me, like really talk to me?" he asked looking in my eyes.
I shook my head.
"Its true. The first year and a half it bothered me but then I got used to it in the last two years. But then this year you randomly decide to talk to me and I didn't…I don't know how to act."
"Its okay. You will get used to it."
"I will get…used to it? You mean you're going to continue to talk to me?" he asked in shock.
"Of course I am!" I said with a laugh. "Sorry Mr. Malfoy, you cant get rid of me now." I smiled and he smiled back then he looked bothered and scratched the back of his neck.
"But…im not good at…I don't know…I actually have no idea how to be a friend."
It broke my heart looking at him struggle with this.
"Don't worry about it. it come naturally."
"Really?"
"Yep. Get ready for a change." I smiled brightly.
"This should be interesting. See you later Weasley."
"Its Rose, not Weasley. Remember?" I smiled at him and he smiled back then walked out of the library.
I went back to studying with a smiled gracing my lips. It could be fun getting to know Scorpius.
Lily, Dom and I were walking down the corridors.
"Come on! That was amazing!" Exclaimed Dom.
"It wasn't that cool." Lily blushed.
"Yeah it was! Wasn't it Rose?" Dom looked at me with enthusiasm in her voice and eyes.
"It really was Lily." I smiled and squeezed her arm. Lily had been the one to win the Quidditch game today and she was being very shy about the fact. Anyone else who would have won would been running down the halls screaming about what they had done. But Lily was humble. "I will see you two later, I have to go and get a book from the library."
"Seriously? A book! We are supposed to party tonight!" exclaimed Dom.
"And I will be there for the party I just got to grab this book before I forget."
"You don't forget anything." Lily nudged me with her hip.
"See you guys in a bit." I kissed Lily's head then whispered "Seriously, you did fantastic!" I walked down the corridor and turned the corner, running straight into someone. I yelped in surprise and took a step back and looked up to see who it was. It wasn't just one person but several. All Slytherin.
"Well Well, Well, If it isn't miss little Weaslet." Said Alexander Blinkhorn. The head arse of the group.
"Hello Blinkhorn."
"What was that you were whispering in your cousins ear? It sure made her blush. Did you guys notice?" He asked his friends. They all nodded and said their 'yeah's' or 'totally's'.
I rolled my eyes and tried to step around them, but they were faster.
"Are you going after your own cousin? I mean we have always thought you might be into girls." He laughed and I could feel my face getting hot with anger. "I mean, since we all know you have never been with a guy."
"Get out of my way Blinkhorn." I huffed.
"Which of course," He went on like he didn't even hear me. "I could change that for you."
"Change what for me?"
"Not being with a guy, I mean I bet you still have virgin lips! But like I said, that can all be changed." He then launched at me, making me drop my books. I gasped as his body smashed into mine. He pulled me close with his arms around my waist so I couldn't get away.
"Get off me!" I screamed. But that just made him tighten his grip on my. I balled my fist and swung at him. My fist came in contact with his nose and I felt it brake under my knuckles. He let me go and took a step back holding his bloody nose.
"What the bloody hell!" He then reared back his arm and I cringed, waiting for the blow. But instead someone caught his hand and shoved a knee into his back. Alexander swore then turned around to see who it was. I saw a glimpse of blonde hair and knew who it was instantly. Scorpius. Alexander threw a punch at Scorpius which made contact. Then Scorpius landed two hits so quickly that it seemed to stun everyone.
"Get out of here!" When none of them moved he screamed. "I SAID GET OUT OF HERE!" Everyone scattered except for Alexander who Scorpius grabbed by the shirt. "If you ever…EVER lay a hand on Rose or any other girl, and I find out about it…you will be begging to be in hell instead of with me. Understood?" Alexander nodded then stumbled off down the corridor.
I looked at Scorpius in shock. I have never seen or even heard of Scorpius yelling. He was always calm, collected and…shy. He was breathing hard and racked a hand through his silky hair.
"Scorpius…"
"Are you okay?" He asked in concern. "Im sorry I didn't get here faster, did he hurt you anywhere else?" He took several steps towards me. He grabbed my arms gently and examined them.
"He didn't hurt me at all, im fine. He just scared me. Thank you for saving me though." He dropped my arms and itched the back of his neck. I have noticed it's what he does when he gets nervous.
"It was nothing." He said quietly. He bent down to pick up my scattered books. I knelt down beside him and helped.
"Listen, do you want to come to my common room? We are having a party.
He hesitated so I added "And I need to heal your face."
"You know that we are wizards…we can just heal ourselves."
"Yeah but whats the fun in not having a scar." I said with a smirk.
We both stood up and he handed me my books.
"You know, your not like most girls."
I look up to meet his eyes.
"No, im not like most girls. But your not like most Slytherins."
"Touché."He ran his hand through his hair and motioned down the corridor. "How about I walk you back?" I nodded and we made our way down the corridor. We talked about random things, getting to know each other better. Once we got to the Fat Lady I turned to Scorpius.
"Are you sure you don't want to come in?"
"No. I really shouldn't. I mean, I am a Slytherin after all. Someone might think im a spy for my house or something." He said with a smile but I could tell that it was bothering him.
"Just ignore them."
"I have been ignoring everyone successfully until you decided to come and talk to me." He said with a smirk. It's the first time I have seen him smirk and it just made him even more enticing.
"Well I guess you will just have to get used to it." I smirked back. Then I stood on my tip toes and put my hand on his neck then kissed his cheek. He smelt like Dragon Wings, a cologne I smelled once in Hogsmeade. I stepped away and could see his cheeks were turning pink and I could feel my own starting to heat.
"Hmmm, I think it's the first time I have ever seen a Slytherin blush." I said with a laugh. He stuttered, trying to get words out and shuffled his feet. "Goodnight Scorpius. And thank you again." I turned around and gave the password to the Fat lady.
"Goodnight Rose." I heard him call after I stepped inside.
Our friendship grew even more after that. We did everything together. We studied together, relaxed together, and even ate together. I would either sit with him or he would sit with me and my family. He was nervous at first, being around my family. He didn't think they would like him. But instead they loved him, James and Fred teased him at first. But he soon figured they were arse's. Scorpius got used to my familys loudness and craziness quickly. It made me so happy to see him interact with my family. Seeing his big grin.
It was nearly summer break of our fifth year and I just got a letter back from my parents. I rushed through the corridors throwing out apologies for the people I ran into or knocked out of the way. I finally made it outside and looked towards the black lake. I spotted a figure sitting under the tree. I took off running full speed, I barley slowed down when I got there.
"Scorpius!" He looked up from his Charms essay.
"Whoa, Rosie, Breath." He laughed.
"I-have-some-news-!" I was bent over with my hands on my knees.
"Okay, well it can wait until you are breathing normal."
I sat down beside him and leaned back against the tree.
"So, I got a letter from my parents." I said once my breathing was normal again.
"Oh yeah?" He looked down and begun to write again.
"Yep, they said I could bring a friend with me for summer break."
"Oh nice, are you going to take Hannah or Alice? Its going to be hard choosing between the two." He said with sympathy.
Is he really that daft to think I would ask one of them and not him?
"Scor, im asking you to come."
He dropped his pen and looked at me.
"What? No! No, no noooooo way!" He jumped up and whipped around throwing his hands around trying to come up with more words.
"Scorpius! Whats the matter with me asking you?"
"Because im me!"
I scowled at him and threw my hands up in confusion.
"Yes thank you very much for clarifying that! I thought you were someone else using a polyjuice potion." I said with thick sarcasm.
"I mean, Im a Slytherin! And im the worst of Slytherins, im a Malfoy!"
"Oh Merlin!"
"An-and you want me to come to your house, full of Potters and Weasley's? Who hate me!"
I jump up and stood right in front of him with my hands on my hips, sporting my mum's pose that she always uses with dad.
"My family loves you!"
"Im not talking about your cousins! Its your uncles and aunts and yo-your parents!" He went a new shade of white. "Oh Merlin, your parents!"
"And what is wrong with my parents?" I growled. I couldn't believe he had something against my parents.
He finally met my eyes.
"Nothing is wrong with your parents its my parents. Its what my father didn't stop when your parents were at the Manor. What happened… what happened to you mum." He said the last bit quietly. My whole body tensed at the mention of my mum getting tortured.
"Scorpius… That wasn't you, that was your parents! My parents would never hold something your dad and your granddad witnessed against you." I grabbed his hands and pulled him towards me, he bant down and wrapped his arms around my waist, his head on my shoulder. I wrapped my arms around his neck.
"Rose…I don't know…."
"Please Scorpius? I don't know what I would do without you for a whole summer." I said quietly.
"Rosie." He sighed. "Only for you, only for you I will come." I hugged him tighter then let him go. He grabbed my face and rubbed his thumbs over my cheeks. I couldn't help but blush at how intense he was staring at me, or the butterflies in my stomach from him cupping my face. The more I spend time with him, I notice more and more that he is extremely handsome. With his bright blond hair, his silver intense eyes, his smirk and his smile. I start to notice so many details, details that normal friends shouldn't notice. "But" He broke me out of my thoughts "if I die this summer im blaming you." His face broke out into a grin. I couldn't help but laugh.
"Deal!" he then kissed my forehead and dropped his hands and sat down. I sat down beside him and layed my head on his shoulder.
"When do we leave?"
"Wednesday."
He groaned and his hand over his face. I laughed and nudged him in his stomach. We sat there until dinner that night. I told him about all the fun we usually have on summer break. He seemed more excited but still nervous.
