Chapter 3

No infringement intended

Scorpius was never the type of guy that held much guilt. He always knew his decisions were made for a reason and never backed down from his word. However, the way he handled the situation with Rose Weasley was nagging on his mind. It was never really interrupting his thoughts, just when he thought about his future fiancé, a strange pang pulled at his chest. Each time he shook it off.

When he would see her in the hallway, pang. When he saw her at dinner, pang. When he saw her in class, pang. Each time, he saw her, she would go out of her way to ignore him. When that was unavoidable, she would go out of her way to make sure he knew exactly how she felt about him. Scorpius would continue to go about his day as if it never effected him. And for the most part, it didn't. Only when she was near.

For weeks this went on. Her glaring at him, or ignoring him, and he pretending that it didn't bother him, until one day when McGonagall called them both into her office.

"Surely you know why I have called you both here." McGonagall looked at them as if she were disciplining them.

"I'm sorry Headmistress, I don't know why we've been called here." Rose said with her eyes cast down. She knew she was in trouble. Maybe someone told her about her conflict with Malfoy? That didn't explain why it had anything to do with the Headmistress.

"I have called you here Miss Weasley, to inform you that you two have been chosen to be this years' head boy and head girl. It is a great honor to be chosen for this position." Both Rose and Scorpius looked at McGonagall with relief and joy.

"Congratulations to the both of you." McGonagall gave them a moment to celebrate and then continued, "You both will be given the privilege of coordinating the prefects of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, you will be allowed to break curfew, and you will share your own common room."

The smiles immediately left their faces and they both shot a glance toward each other.

"Professor I don't think that-"

"Surely, you must know why-" They both began to speak but were interrupted when McGonagall raised her hand to stop them.

"I am well aware of the particular situation that you two find yourselves in. I am also a believer that we have the ability to make our own decisions." McGonagall shot them a knowing gaze, "However, that being said, I cannot force you two into a position that will make you uncomfortable. You both are allowed to decline this offer." She stepped behind her desk.

"May we have a day to think about it Headmistress?" Rose asked.

"Yes Miss Weasley, I will give you until the end of week, and then I will have to find someone else."

"Thank you professor." Scorpius and Rose both turned to leave.

They were both walking to the great hall, Rose five paces ahead of Scorpius and very aware that he was there.

"So you're stepping down then?" Scorpius asked Rose, almost uncaringly, but a inkling of curiosity peaked through the monotone words.

"Me? Why should I step down? I've worked hard to get this, I won't give it up so easily. YOU step down then." Rose turned to face him, red in the face from anger.

"I don't care what you do really." Scorpius walked passed her without turning back.

Rose just got more angry. Why was he always the one that got to walk away? Why did he always have the last word? He made her so angry. Did she really want to spend the rest of the year and all of next living with that git? Her father would advise her to turn it down. Her mother would encourage her to take it. She didn't know what to do. Only one person could help.


"Albus! Tell me what to do!" Rose whined, a voice she only saved for her father, her brother and Albus.

"Rose, I don't know what to tell you. You seem to really hate the guy."

"I do!" Rose admitted.

"Well then turn it down." Al tried to get back to reading Quidditch Illustrated.

"But I really want to be Head Girl!" Rose was being purposefully annoying.

"Well then take the job, Rose. I don't know. Just let me be!" Al tried to turn away but Rose snatched his magazine away.

"Rose!"

"Come on Al! I'd help you if you were in this situation."

Albus just laughed, "I'm sure Rose, that if I were ever asked to be the head boy to a head girl that I absolutely hated but was unofficially engaged to, that you would help me out in a pinch," He rolled his eyes, "What do you need from me?"

Rose smiled began explaining to Al in great detail the predicament that she was in. He spent two hours listening to her rant until he just couldn't take it anymore.

"Listen Rose, I can only empathize with you about the whole engagement thing, but as far as the Head Girl thing goes, it seems to me that if you want it you should take it. You shouldn't let that slimy git get away with scaring you off to something you want. But you know that. I don't know why you needed me to tell you that. But will you please give me my magazine back, and deal with your own problems?"

Rose sighed, nodded and reluctantly handed him the rolled up pages. She marched immediately to her bed and took out two pieces of parchment. One she addressed to Professor McGonagall and the other to Scorpius Malfoy.


Scorpius was preparing to go to sleep. Everyone else had gone to bed hours ago and he was left laying on his bed, one hand on his chest and the other folded beneath his head. He was thinking about whether or not to accept the position offered to him. Normally, he would leap at the opportunity and wouldn't care who was Head Girl, but this seemed different. Obviously the circumstances changed it a bit but he didn't think that that bothered him either. His heart felt a little heavier than it ever had before and it was strange to him. He was just about to shake it off and go to sleep when he heard a soft tap at the window.

He rolled out of bed and opened the pane to the cool November air. The owl looked at him with big, gentle eyes and he couldn't help but reach out and pet it. He took the small paper from it and sent it on its way with a treat. He unrolled the letter and two words were written in a fine scrawl:

I'm in.