Chapter 3 Third Year
Scorpius had bested Rose in Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts the previous year. They tied for top student in all other subjects, much to the chagrin of Rose and Ron Weasley. Although surprised and curious of this boy who could academically compete against her daughter, Hermione was also at a loss as to how to console her. She had been labeled the "brightest witch of her age," and that came from competing against none other than herself. Decidedly, this was the angle she approached to soothe her distraught offspring. Rose, being Hermione's logical clone, immediately recognized the advice for the sense it held. She determined to spend third year not focusing so much on her competition as her own capabilities. She chided herself for not realizing sooner the distraction it was to focus on more than just academics, and wondered if Scorpius had come to that realization long ago, and that was how he was able to steal top student.
Thus, by December of Third Year, Rose was exceeding in all subjects much to Scorpius' chagrin. Their roles reversed as she became his focus. Scorpius was perplexed by her lack of attention to his person in the two classes they shared, Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts. He had grown accustomed to her watchful eye and bombardment of obvious statements, though he hardly engaged her in conversation beyond assignment discussions. He humorously relived the moment she introduced herself many times. He enjoyed their partnership in Potions, as he finally had an equal with whom to work. But now the tiny Gryffindor seemed to ignore him, and it greatly vexed him. He had to know why.
At the end of the last day of Potions before their holiday, Rose gathered her things and began walking out solo. Albus was the popular one, and she was more than pleased her peers found an introvert with intellect unappealing. (Although, to be fair, Albus was much like his father in regards to unwanted attention and she did pity his situation.) As she walked to Charms alone in her thoughts, Scorpius' voice materialized to her right.
"You don't sit beside me anymore." She turned her head in surprise to see him walking beside her, looking forward, before composing herself and mimicking the action.
"I know where I sit just like you know where I sit. Merlin, you're annoying." It was her turn to smirk. The comment earned a soft chuckle from her academic nemesis, and her smirk morphed into a triumphant grin.
After a silent moment, their conversation continued as neither broke stride. "I guess what I wanted to know was why."
"Why what?" she asked.
"Why did you sit beside me last year, and not this year? What brought about the change?" He glanced at her for the first time.
The question made her stop in her tracks, forcing him to acknowledge the intimacy of his inquiry as he halted beside her. He stared at her while she bit her lip in contemplation of an honest answer. "I guess…it was my mother that brought about the change." Her blue eyes met his grey ones for the first time in over a month.
"Your mother." He stared at her, incredulous.
"Yes, my mother," she responded adamantly. Like a Gryffindor, she continued truthfully. "She made me realize that focusing on beating you was not what would make me top student. I need only compete against myself." Rose could not read the expression encompassing Scorpius' face. Because she was still sore about being bested last year, she added a jab. "We are both astute enough to acknowledge that this seems to be working."
Although nine months his senior, it was the Slytherin who was first to notice the attractions of the opposite sex. It was hard to ignore the petite witch before him as he had been long drawn to the inner workings of her mind. However, a new thought, in a different direction creeped into his consciousness. The thought seemed to be controlled less by his brain than some other place on his body. If one was to look past the intimidating mind of the little witch, then it became blaringly obvious that her straight, brown, thick hair, soft clear skin, and piercing blue eyes were pretty features. It was the allure to these physical characteristics that made him venture his first ever flirtatious comment. "Well Weasley, I rather liked being your object of study. Perhaps you will do it again sometime. 'We're both astute enough to acknowledge' the benefits of partnering." With that he abandoned their tête-à-tête, inexperienced and too much a coward to observe how it was received.