AN: This is set in an AU future version of the The Art of Denial universe. Same style and OCs. If you liked this, you can go and read that, has the same OCs and format. You don't have to read that to understand this.
Speak Now
My Flat
January 9th
The envelope was heavy and cream. Stiff. Formal. Fancy.
I carefully detached the flap from the envelope, and a white card slid out.
You are cordially invited to celebrate the wedding of Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy
and
Sophie Isabel Sumners
Blah blah blah.
I stopped reading after I read the name of Scorpius' fiancé. Sophie Sumners. Fucking hell.
Scorpius was getting married-married!-to Sumners.
Oh my god.
My hands were shaking so violently that I dropped the card. As the card fluttered toward the floor, it flipped over.
Scorpius had included a note on the back.
I hope I'll see you there
Like I said, fucking hell.
Honestly, this had to be karma.
I felt a stab to my heart as I saw his handwriting.
I couldn't face him, especially not at his fucking wedding to Sumners.
I could not fucking believe that I had to watch Scorpius marry the girl I hated so much. I didn't even know that they were dating again.
I wasn't even supposed to be fucking upset. Yes, Scorpius and I had dated. Obviously we broke up. I was supposed to be happy that he found happiness-even if it was with Sumners.
But...I was upset.
I wasn't still in love with him.
I couldn't be.
Once upon a time, before we got together, before all of the shit went down-we were best friends. That also fell apart when-
No. I won't think about it.
Honestly-I couldn't believe Scorpius had the audacity to send me this invitation, and expect me to dutifully sit through the ceremony, and watch him tie his life to a girl that I despised, a girl that despised me. It was so...cruel.
Well, that fit.
Scorpius could be cruel.
Intentionally and unintentionally.
I knew that better than almost anyone.
Except Emma maybe.
God.
Emma!
She had to have known that Scorpius was engaged to Sumners and didn't say a word. Although, Emma wouldn't be that cruel. She wouldn't. Knowing Emma, she just didn't want to upset me.
Well, maybe Emma and I can drink ourselves silly together at the reception.
I haven't seen Emma much since after Hogwarts. She was playing Quidditch for the Holyhead Harpies, and therefore, very busy. We had owled frequently, but I hadn't seen her much.
I hadn't seen anyone much since after Hogwarts.
One very severe con of having friends and family that were very good friends with Scorpius.
And-Jesus Christ.
Albus Severus Potter.
My wonderful cousin.
There's no way Al didn't know about his best friend's wedding. Hell, he was probably the best man! And he didn't say a damn thing to me, like, "Hey, Rosie, you should know that your ex Scorpius is marrying your archnemesis Sophie Sumners. Thought you should know before you got the wedding invite."
Actually if he said that, I probably would've hexed the shit out of him.
This can't be my life.
Still In My Flat
January 9th
Dom burst into my flat without knocking on the door. I reckon she'll always do that, no matter how many times I tell her not to.
"Please fucking explain this!" Dom shouted, waving her wedding invitation around, without even uttering so much as a 'hello'.
She's so polite.
And charming.
"You changed your hair!" I immediately said, taking notice of the highlights and shortness. "It looks good."
"Forget the hair," she said, exasperated. "We'll discuss that some other time. What I want to know is, why the fuck is Scorpius marrying the she-devil?"
"How would I know? I haven't even spoken to Scorpius since, I dunno, Hogwarts! You'd actually get answers if you asked Al or Emma."
"You're still in love with Scorpius," Dom said smugly.
"What?!"
Why did Dom think that?
I'm not!
Maybe I haven't exactly completely moved on, but to suggest that I was still in love with him? Pshh, never!
I mean, being in love with your boyfriend from school, which was like six years ago was so pathetic.
She raised an eyebrow.
"Are you alright with this?"
"Why wouldn't I be? I haven't even seen Scorpius since Hogwarts. I mean, I don't really want him to get married, but mostly because I don't like Sumners," I rambled on.
"Stop him, then," Dom suggested.
Dom has been convinced that Scorpius and I still harbor feelings for each other which is so unbelievably ridiculous, I don't even know where she gets those ideas.
"In what world, d'you think Scorpius would ever listen to me? We haven't spoken since Hogwarts, Dom. Hogwarts."
"You and I both know that doesn't matter," she said firmly.
"I'm not going to say anything," I said.
Dom looked unbelievably frustrated.
"I don't know if this has gone through your thick skull, but he's getting married, Rose! Married!"
"Yes, I've noticed!" I said flatly.
"Love him or not, are you really going to let him tie himself to the she-devil?"
"He's happy with her Dom. He wouldn't marry her if he wasn't," I said rather logically. "No, I don't love him anymore but I still care about him, which is why I would never mess with his wedding!"
Dom looked rather annoyed.
"Vodka?" I asked.
"Hell yes."
The Wedding (Doomsday? Hell?)
June 25th
I tried to arrive at the wedding inconspicuously. But it's very hard to be inconspicuous when the whole church is flooded with your cousins, and you've got a flaming red bird nest on your head. I tried to blend in with the crowd, nervously avoiding my entire harem of cousins. Some old Hogwarts classmates looked at me suspiciously. While no one exactly knew why we broke up, they had definitely heard the rumors.
"Rosie!" Emma shouted, waving furiously. Emma still looked as pretty as ever. Her long brown hair was straight and shiny. And I had a flaming red bird nest on top of my head. Fantastic.
So much for trying to be inconspicuous.
I blame Mum and Dad for this one. What the fuck did they think would happen if they procreated? They must've known that I'd most likely end up with the Weasley red and Mum's bushy hair.
"Em!" I yelled back, throwing my arms around her.
"Why the hell did you not tell me?" I hissed angrily, my happiness evaporating.
"Oh, Rosie," she said, surprisingly tenderly.
"I'm fine, Em, I really am. Just a little shocked, y'know?" I said, trying to act neutral.
"So you're not going to try and stop the wedding?" she teased, her green eyes sparkling. Emma looked good. She always did. Happy, too.
I wasn't unhappy. Although I also wasn't exactly happy. I was...fine.
Fine.
Embarrassingly, I hadn't exactly moved on since we broke up, years ago. I had dated, but not seriously, because...none of them were him.
But I wasn't still in love with him!
I wasn't!
I dated several platinum blond, pale, haughty arseholes, but it wasn't the same. It would never be the same.
I rolled my eyes.
"You're so funny. Why don't you give up Quidditch and try some stand-up comedy?" I said sarcastically.
"You didn't answer my question, my dear, Rosie. You're being evasive."
Well.
Enter Rose Weasley-the Queen of Evasion. And denial, too. According to my mates.
"No. We broke up ages ago," I said, forcing a smile.
"Come on, let's go sit in the front," Emma said cheerfully. "Elizabeth!" she suddenly called out, when she saw Liz crossing the church.
While Emma and I rarely saw each other, we saw Liz even less. She was working in the Department of International Magical Cooperation, and was constantly traveling. She had risen rather quickly up the ladder, and had decided to ask everyone to call her Elizabeth. Keeping it professional. Or whatever.
"When I told people to call me that, I didn't mean you!" Liz cried in fake outrage. "By the way, Rosie, how are you doing?"
"How am I doing? Well, you see, I've just been promoted, Leah Jones was found dead-paperwork was a bitch, had dinner with Al and Lils a few days ago, bought this highly fascinating book at Flourish and Blotts," I said lightly.
It wasn't a lie. It just wasn't the whole truth.
Liz rolled her eyes and interrupted. "How are you doing with this?"
"Oh, fine, fine, it's wonderful. Everything's just...peachy! Peachy!"
Liz looked unconvinced and fairly amused, while Emma was snickering.
Oh.
Smooth.
So smooth.
James Bond had nothing on Rose Weasley.
"Peachy," Emma repeated, stifling a laugh.
"Have you a problem with the word peachy?" I demanded. "I think it'll be my word of the day."
"Oh, how I've missed you and your loony self," Emma said dramatically.
"So, we're not going to have to deal with you stopping a wedding?" Liz quipped.
"Hilarious, Elizabeth," I said dryly.
Stopping a wedding was such a...pathetic, jealous thing to do.
And I, Rose Weasley, am not pathetic. Or jealous.
Still at the Wedding (otherwise known as Hell)
June 25th
I sat between Emma and Liz at the front of the church. Scorpius and Sumners would stand about seven feet in front of me and get married.
Enter Rose Weasley-the ultimate masochist.
"Not thinking about having a 'Speak Now' moment, are you?" Lily asked, sliding into the row behind us.
"Why is everyone asking me that?" I asked, throwing my hands up in frustration.
"Do you guys not want Scorpius to marry Sumners?" I asked.
"I want him to be happy. If it's with Sumners...that's...alright," Emma said, looking almost pained. She and Sumners, while they had known each other for their whole lives, had never quite seen eye to eye.
I didn't blame her. Who could see eye to eye with that bitch? She had tortured me all through Hogwarts, and had gotten even worse when Scorpius and I got together. He tried to get us to be at least cordial to each other, but it never worked out. Props to him for trying the impossible, though. She probably threw a damn party when she heard the we broke up, and probably immediately started trying to get him back.
"Well that wasn't a proper answer," I pointed out. "Are you evading me, Emilia?"
"Never," Emma proclaimed.
"Tissue?" Lily asked, handing me one, after rifling through her purse.
I stared at her blankly.
"I don't really cry at weddings. Weddings are happy occasions, y'know?"
"Happiness is expressed in many different ways. There can be happy tears," Lily insisted.
"But you're not happy," I said, a wry smile tugging at my lips, accepting the tissue.
"What makes you say that?" she demanded.
"Because I know you too well, Lily Potter. Why the hell would there be a reason to be unhappy?"
"Oh? So you are happy," Lily stated.
"Are you implying that I'm not?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
"I didn't say that. And are you implying that I'm not?" Lily shrugged.
"You implied that. And yes, exactly," I pointed out.
"You're inferring," Lily said.
"I believe that was a long, confusing, and very evasive way of saying that Lily and Rose don't want to see Scorpius stuck with Sophie Sumners for life," Emma whisper shouted.
Oh Emma.
The Queen of Subtlety.
Still still at the Wedding (otherwise known as Embarrassment Central)
June 25th
There's something about seeing someone after you haven't seen them in years.
Scorpius.
He looked exactly the same.
He was still blond and pale.
Beautiful.
It was then that reality really began crashing on me. Scorpius was about to marry Sumners. He was standing next to the minister, wearing his robes, as handsome as ever.
Oh god.
I felt the burn of his gaze, and I looked in his direction.
We looked in each other's eyes.
I nodded, while he smiled sadly.
Apologetically?
In that moment-I realized. I was just in love with Scorpius Malfoy as I had been when I was seventeen. And he was standing by a minister in a church, waiting to marry Sophie Sumners.
Believe it or not-I didn't come to the wedding because I was a masochist. Nor did I come to the wedding for the sole purpose of stopping it. I came, because, once upon a time, Scorpius Malfoy was my best friend. Of course, we dated, and then broke up-but he was my best friend once.
I wanted to throw up when I saw Sophie Sumners, still blonde and gorgeous, in her white gossamer wedding dress, walking down the aisle. A bridal veil covered her delicate features. She was glowing. Infuriatingly beautiful.
I could hardly watch Scorpius and Sumners together up there.
I could hardly watch Scorpius looking at Sumners like he loved her.
I could hardly listen to any of the traditional proceedings.
Until-
"Speak now or forever hold your peace," the minister said.
I wasn't thinking when I stood up.
Enter Rose Weasley-the pathetic, jealous ex-girlfriend.
Note to Self: Start using the brains you always prided on having. Please.
The whole crowd swerved around, gasped, and stared at me.
Emma and Liz's expressions were almost comical-Emma's eyes were bugged out and her jaw was dropped in shock, and Liz was wearing a what the hell do you think you're doing expression. Al was horrified. Lily had clapped her hands over her mouth. James weirdly looked delighted, like this was some Muggle soap he was just watching, instead of real life.
Sophie Sumners looked absolutely murderous. If looks could kill, I'd be dead, and she'd be in Azkaban. Her eyes were flashing, and her jaw was clenched. To be honest, she looked a bit constipated.
I looked at the only person that mattered.
"No. Not her," I whispered.
Scorpius looked vaguely shocked. Then amused. He raised an eyebrow, almost mockingly, as if to say, "really?"
Rejected.
I thought I had been heartbroken before, but this was different.
Horrifyingly, I felt tears welling up, and I felt all warm and embarrassed.
I've been embarrassed before.
Professor Brown once announced to the class that I thought McLaggen was a "sexy piece of man-cake". Hugo once thought I was having sex and thought that telling all of Hogwarts was apt. I once cried hysterically on Scorpius Malfoy's shoulder in the middle of the corridor.
But this takes the cake.
Oh my god.
I didn't know what I was going to do, but I had to get out of there.
"I'm sorry," I whispered. I heard the gasps and glares as I made my way out of the church as fast as humanly possible.
Tears clouded my eyes as I ran out of the church like mad.
As soon as I got out of the church, I sat down on a bench, and cried. I covered my eyes with my hands as I sobbed.
I thought I knew heartbreak.
I didn't.
I didn't know anything at all.
I don't quite know what I expected.
In the movies, the guy runs after the girl, usually in the pouring rain, declaring his undying love.
Life isn't a movie.
It's fairly sunny with a few white fluffy clouds today. Scorpius isn't here. He doesn't love me.
It was over-Scorpius was marrying Sumners at that very moment.
Sophie Sumners was becoming Sophie Malfoy.
Everyone probably hated me.
I came, I saw, I lost.
My Flat (still embarrassed)
June 25th
I eventually made my way back to my flat, after I went through an entire lifetime's supply of tears, and elicited thousands of funny stares from innocent passerby.
I immediately grabbed a bottle of vodka.
Real healthy habits, Rose.
To Do:
1. Move to Antarctica for real? Can people actually survive there?
2. Avoid Emma (shouldn't be difficult)
3. Avoid Elizabeth (really easy)
4. Avoid Al
5. Avoid everyone that was at the wedding
6. Plus anyone associated with anyone at that wedding
7. Avoid everyone in the wizarding world. Wizards are terrible gossips.
8. Become a muggle? Maybe?
9. Antarctica might be too cold. What about Los Angeles?
Still In My Flat (still still embarrassed)
June 25th
I heard knocking-probably Emma, Liz, or one of my many cousins.
I flung the door open without checking.
If there's ever a murderer knocking on my door-I'll probably end up dead.
Scorpius fidgeted awkwardly. He was a complete mess. His hair was tousled and he just looked...tired.
"Oh," I whispered hoarsely.
"Can I come in?" he asked.
I nodded mutely.
"Why?" he asked.
He didn't look angry.
Maybe, I was just holding on to nonexistent hope at this point.
Deluding myself, I suppose.
"Because-because you don't belong with her!" I choked out.
He looked almost...sympathizing.
I didn't want his sympathy. Not after today.
"I'm sorry. I really am. We broke up years ago, and I know that I looked like a real jealous bint-but you, you just don't belong with her. She's not good enough for you," I blubbered hysterically. "I didn't want you to make a mistake. You shouldn't have married her."
He seemed speechless.
A very rare occurrence, if I might say.
"I'm so sorry," I whispered brokenly. And that wasn't a total lie. Yes, I was sorry that I ruined the wedding. No, I wasn't sorry that I tried to stop him from marrying Sumners.
Trying is all I've got these days.
"Well, I suppose it's a good thing that I didn't marry her," he said rather sardonically.
I was trying not to think about the last time we had spoken-the day we broke up.
The day everything went to shit.
He kissed me on the cheek, and god, it burned like hell.
And then-instead of boldly proclaiming his love for me-he walked out the door-without looking back.
He didn't marry Sumners.
But, again, life isn't a movie.
I still lost today.
AN: Maybe I'll write a Part 2? I don't know...wow my writing has been depressing lately. Please review, favorite, or follow! Read The Art of Denial if you like the style or OCs. Or if you just feel like it. That's cool too. See you soon!