A/N: And on with the next chapter…
DISCLAIMER: Only the plot.
Chapter Two: Wake Up Sunshine
The wind blew around her sending a chill down her spine. She brushed away her annoying lock of brown hair and kept one hand on the page of her book to stop the wind from turning the pages. Her eyes followed the words but her mind didn't comprehend them. Instead she slammed the book shut and leaned against the tree trunk, staring out at the rippling lake.
"Rosie, there you are."
Rose looked up at Albus and managed a small, barely there smile. Albus settled down beside her and looked at her closed book.
"Innocence, your favourite book. You only read that when you are upset," commented Albus.
"I met who I am to marry if the trial goes well today," said Rose in monotone, "I met the person I have to date every Saturday for three hours today. I have no say in the matter whatsoever."
"Who is it?"
Rose brushed her lock of hair away from her face again and turned to Albus, "Scorpius Malfoy."
Albus stared at her before the full impact hit him. He turned away and let out a deep breath, "Malfoy."
Rose nodded and looked down at her book cover, "Evie's romance is an amazing journey… at the end you get to imagine whom she wound up with… was it Jake or Piotr? For me, the choice has been made and I don't even like it one bit. I absolutely detest it. I absolutely hate whom they picked for me! How can I bloody well think I will get along with Malfoy?"
"They said that?"
"Apparently I have a wonderful personality that can connect with anyone," said Rose with the roll of her eyes.
"You have a great personality but Malfoy is just the opposite to you."
Rose gave a nod and shivered in the breeze. Albus stood up and dusted the back of his pants off.
"Coming in?"
Rose gave a nod and stood up. She brushed the dirt and grass off her skirt and walked back to the castle with Albus slowly.
"So did you get any homework?" asked Rose.
"We did for Defence and Transfiguration. Paige and Alice got yours."
Rose nodded and they walked the rest of the way in silence.
The warmth of the Entrance Hall flooded through their bodies along with the scent of dinner arriving in the Great Hall. The pair headed in and sat at the Gryffindor table. Chase, Alice and Paige joined them ten minutes later, looking at Rose worriedly as she merely picked at her tuna bake slice.
"Rosie," said Hugo sitting beside her, "Who is it?"
Rose looked up and over at the Slytherin table in answer. Hugo, Chase, Alice, Paige, Albus and the just arrived Lily followed her gaze. Sitting at the Slytherin table looking just as miserable as Rose was Scorpius. Beside him sat Eric Zabini, with Melena Parkinson and David Flint across from him.
"Malfoy?" said Lily loudly in shock.
Her voice sounded across the hall causing Scorpius to look up in annoyance. Rose looked at him and then directly away with a nod.
"How can they torture you with this?" cried Paige shaking her head, "Merlin, that's worse then betrothing Al to Melena."
Albus pulled a face as Rose pushed her plate away and stood up.
"I just want to be alone," she said before leaving the Great Hall.
She walked aimlessly, having no particular place in mind. Her mind kept on wondering why her? Why him? Why bring such a stupid law back into play? But no answer could come into her mind, at least not one to satisfy her anger and frustration.
Looking up she found her self at the owlery steps. She walked up them and into the round room where the owls were nestled high above. Their soft hoots sounded the air bringing calmness over Rose. She walked to the window and stared out at the dusk sky.
"The betrothal is complete…"
Rose gave a sigh and shook her head trying to rid her mind of those four, final words. Words she wished she never had to hear.
Footsteps ran up the staircase, making Rose spin around. The person stepped up the last steps and came to a halt at the sight of a startled Rose.
"Weasley."
"Malfoy," said Rose looking away from him.
"We need to talk."
Rose looked back at him in surprise.
"Lets get some things straight here," he said, the coldness flooding back into his tone, "We will bodge our way through this betrothal and make sure they consider it a complete failure. I will date whoever I want and if someone considers dating you, which I highly doubt, you can date them."
"Thanks for your permission there, Malfoy," fired back Rose walking right up to him, "And as if I would consider making this betrothal a success. There will be no need to fake this because there is no way in hell I can see myself considering marrying you, let alone being forced into it!"
Rose walked past Scorpius in anger, leaving him at the top of the stairs fuming also.
The rest of the week passed with Rose and Scorpius avoiding each other like a disease, which they considered the other person to be. But when Saturday came there was no avoiding the date. Each had received a letter stating that the first date would be to Hogsmeade with the day's itinerary set out. They would meet at the Great Hall at 11 o'clock and be back for the afternoon at 2 o'clock.
Alice and Paige walked into the girls dormitory room finding Rose sitting on her bed looking as if she would prefer to be sent to her death then the date.
"Oh, nice jeans," said Paige.
Rose looked up, "As if I am going to get dolled up for him."
She was wearing black bootleg jeans with a baby blue tank top with a black three-quarter sleeve cardigan over top. Beside her dangling legs were her black flats. Her brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail.
"So do you want us to walk you down?" asked Paige, "Because if we don't Hugo, Albus and Chase plan to."
"That'd be nice. Where is Lily?"
"Already on her way to the Great Hall. I think she plans on speaking to him."
Rose sighed and slid off her bed, slipping on her shoes. She grabbed her handbag and headed out the door with her friends. In the common room she farewelled her brother, cousin and Chase telling them she knew how to handle Scorpius and his horrid attitude.
All the way to the Great Hall Rose felt utter dread. She was looking forward to the date coming to an end knowing it would be a disaster, as would the next and the one after that.
The Great Hall was full of students and most weren't there to eat lunch early. By now the news of the betrothal had traveled near and far across Hogwarts thanks to paintings in the library that had witnessed it.
"There's Lily," said Alice pointing out their red haired fellow Gryffindor.
Lily walked over to them and hugged Rose, "He hasn't arrived yet."
"Please don't say anything," begged Rose clutching Lily's hands, "It will only aggravate him."
"Fine, but if you come home crying I will detach his manhood and stick it in a jar for all to see. Then I will feed it to the squid. Got it?"
Rose managed a small smile before Filch came limping over to them. The four young women looked up at him.
"Coming then? I haven't got all day," he grumbled.
Rose nodded and hugged her friends and cousin again. She followed Filch to the Entrance Hall where Scorpius stood dressed in plain black clothes with a green shirt on. He ignored Rose completely, his hand with the engagement ring jammed in his pockets. Rose fiddled with hers absently as they stepped outside to the waiting carriage.
Filch watched them climb in and shut the door behind them. Rose sat directly across from Scorpius looking out the window. In her mind the first date activity played through her mind.
'A drink at the Three Broomsticks – This will allow you both to break the ice and get to know each other some more.'
Scorpius simply pulled a copy of the Daily Prophet from inside his jacket and read the sports section in silence.
'Three hours of utter silence,' thought Rose, 'What a way to spend the day.'
When the carriage pulled up Scorpius stepped out first and began walking quickly to the Three Broomsticks. He managed to get ten meters away before Rose went flying off the bottom step of the carriage onto the ground. Scorpius also fell back onto the ground, cursing loudly.
With a wince Rose stood up and dusted her clothes off in annoyance. Scorpius stood up and turned to Rose with an angry glare.
"What did you do?" he demanded.
"Me?" cried Rose angrily, "I did nothing. You must have done something!"
"Why would I pull you after me?"
"Well you were the one walking off in a hurry!"
Scorpius glared at her and looked away. He turned and started walking away in a hurry with Rose following in case the incident occurred again. Her mind furiously went over the moment trying to pin point where the force came from.
They entered the Three Broomsticks and reluctantly sat in a booth keeping a decent distance between each other.
"Our rings," said Rose suddenly, having been staring at hers, "The force that pulled us came from the rings."
"How can our rings do that?" spat Scorpius looking up from his paper.
Rose sighed and glared at him, "Think about it."
"Well you can tell me."
"No."
"Oh why not?"
"Why should I?"
"Because we are engaged."
"On trial basis only," snapped back Rose, "I'm getting a drink."
She stood and walked over to the bar. Rosemerta had aged somewhat but still held a beauty that her father found attractive so many years ago. She greeted Rose with a smile.
"Rosie! Your parents were here for drinks a few nights ago. How have you been?"
"Alright," smiled Rose, "Can I get a butter beer please?"
"Just the one?"
Rose nodded.
"So you aren't going to buy one for your date then?"
Rose looked over her shoulder at Scorpius who was staring at the ring on his finger, "We may be engaged but we aren't really together. So I'm not obliged to buy him anything. Besides, he has more then enough money to pay for himself."
Rosemerta just gave a nod and got Rose her drink. Rose smiled, paid and went back to the booth with her drink. She sat down and took a sip before looking around the pub. Many wizards, witches and other types of magical folk were sitting at other tables talking loudly or in mere silence.
"I don't get it. Just bloody tell me already," said Scorpius suddenly with a glare to Rose.
"How dense are you?" asked Rose with a sigh, "Think: rings. Think: force. Anything clicking in there yet?"
"We are linked together in public?"
"In a sense. Its more of a bond that is active when we are meant to be together by order of the contract."
Scorpius pulled a face, "Connected to you? More then I have to be?"
Rose glared at him, "And you think I like that fact as well?"
She stood up, purposely knocking her drink all over his paper and stormed out of the pub. She came to a halt on the front steps only pulling her ring hand forward. She gripped onto the pole beside her at the pull of the force and heard Scorpius crash onto the ground and echo of drunken laughter.
"One," whispered Rose, "Two… three."
Sure enough out came Scorpius a furious look on his face as he stopped and stood in front of her, his face flushed red from embarrassment and anger.
"Have a good fall?" asked Rose innocently.
"You… I…" he spluttered in anger, "Merlin I hate you!"
Rose smiled, "Aww shucks, don't you know I feel the same?"
He gave an angry growl and stepped down the steps before stopping and turning to her, "How much longer do I have to put up with you for?"
Rose looked at her watch, "Two and a half hours. So… where next?"
"No!" shot back Scorpius, "No I am not doing this! I refuse to do this damn betrothal thing!"
Rose sat down on the step feeling the amusement from her payback slide away as misery surrounded her once more.
"How can they do this to me?" he cried, "Why not some other poor sod? Merlin I hate life!"
Rose closed her eyes trying to drown out his words. As much as she hated Scorpius and knew his words should have no affect on her, he made her feel completely worthless and unworthy of a mans affections.
His ranting was continuing with people looking at the pair in shock. Rose suddenly stood up and stomped down the steps before slapping Scorpius hard across the face.
"SHUT UP!" she screamed in anger with him staring at her in shock, "I am stuck in this as well! I don't like you; I don't want to be engaged to you! I am too young for any of this! You seem to bloody well think the world is just against you, well wake up sunshine! It damn well isn't! Its just the way things have turned so get used to it because we have a year stuck to each other!"
Rose turned and stormed down the road stopping just before ten meters, "Are you going to stand there or do I need to pull you along?"
Scorpius gave a silent scowl and followed her for their supposed 'romantic' walk to the Shrieking Shack.
Two o'clock couldn't have come sooner for Rose or Scorpius. As soon as the carriage pulled into Hogwarts Rose took off for the Quidditch Pitch. She hastily pulled off her flats and grabbed her sneakers she kept in the change rooms. She summoned her broom and waited for it impatiently. She got a quaffle from the shed and flew up into the air, furiously pegging it into the goals wanting to sweat out her anger and frustration.
Obviously her friends had been waiting for her, finding her flying about the pitch an hour later. Rose flew down to them breathless and sweaty. She pulled her cardigan off on landing and gave them a tight smile.
"That good, huh?" said Albus, "We saw him arrive… did you slap him?"
"Yeah, why?" asked Rose.
"Nice hand print," smirked Chase, "He'll wear that one for a while even if he conceals it."
"Oh he is such a conceited pig!" cried Rose pacing back and forth, "Its like… its like its my fault we are engaged. My fault they chose him instead of some other… how did he put it? Oh yeah, some other poor sod."
Her brother rubbed her back comfortingly while her friends just shook their heads in disgust.
"I know I'm not acting any better then he is," sighed Rose, "But Merlin, he doesn't make it easy for me! And you want to know the best part? When him and I are on these dates in hell, we aren't allowed to be more then ten meters apart. Beautiful, don't you think?"
"That is hell," agreed Hugo.
"Where you going?"
Rose looked over at Chase and gave him an eye roll, "The relationships counsellor. Its my turn to tell her my grievances about Malfoy."
"Oh boy, I hope she has a year free for that."
Rose threw a pillow at him and headed down to the Hospital Wing. Madam Pomfrey had offered up her office for the weekly appointments, which suited Lavender Boot fine. She walked in silence, taking her time. She had no clue what she would say to the counsellor. She knew of Lavender from her parents mentioning old school mates but had never met her. To Rose, she was a virtual stranger. To Rose it would be like letting the corner shop lady at the shop near her home read her journal.
She entered the Hospital Wing and was met by Madam Pomfrey.
"Just in my office dear," she said with a kind smile.
Rose nodded and walked down the centre of the room. A few sick students looked at her with interest, but Rose ignored them and their looks. She knocked on the door and heard a voice tell her to enter.
"Rose! Oh you look so much like your mother," said Lavender standing up with a smile, "Oh and you got the Weasley blue eyes."
Rose gave her a small smile, "I did."
"Well, I'm Lavender Boot. Now, today, this is a private session between you and I. During the week, before your next date with Scorpius I will call you both in together. But lets not worry about that for now. I want to talk about you and your feelings."
Rose nodded settling into the chair, "Okay."
"Obviously the betrothal would have been shocking. At least for me, but how did you feel about it?"
"I was shocked at first," said Rose with a shrug before sighing a little, "Really upset and then angry."
Lavender nodded, scribbling notes down, "Uh hmm… that is completely understandable and the general chain of emotions for something this big. Did you digest the news before the meeting?"
"No. I had no time. I… I didn't want to enter the library… but I had to because Madam Pince opened the door on me… if she hadn't I would have walked away."
"Okay… what about when you found out Scorpius was your betrothed?"
Rose looked down at the ring, "I was really shocked… then upset and then… angry. I'm still angry. I hate him, I hate the law, I hate the trial and I really hate having been chosen. It is not fair! It sucks… it… it is so, so wrong to force people into this! How can they? How can the Ministry do this? What happened to Human Rights? Huh? Or do they simply believe they are above that? Merlin… the whole system is screwed up!"
Lavender just nodded at Rose's explosion, writing notes down.
"I'm glad you aren't keeping this in. Expressing anger is the best form of healing. Bottling things up can hurt more in the long run. Now… what about Scorpius? What do you think of him? How does he make you feel?"
Rose shifted in her seat, "Scorpius Malfoy is a snot nosed, spoilt brat. He has this thing where everyone owes him something. When I am around him… I just feel like screaming at him or… doing something that will shake the brat behaviour out of him."
"What about how you feel around him?"
"Oh, I generally feel angry around him… annoyed… and worthless."
"Worthless?"
"He has this way or making you think things about your self. I don't think he knows he can do that yet," said Rose with a soft frown, "But when he does and he eventually will, no doubt about that, he will use it to his advantage."
Lavender nodded, "You shouldn't let anyone make you feel that way, Rose. If ever you feel like that say this mantra: I am worth more then you can afford. Now this isn't for a money buy, but emotion wise. But one day you will feel that someone can afford you… only you will know that."
Rose smiled at Lavender and nodded.
A/N: The chapters will get longer but I hope this one was worth the wait. Anyway, please review!
Until next time…
Love yas!
Love Coz!