I'm back from vacation! Britain was incredible! Anyone who hasn't been there already should definitely visit one day. Anyway, another chapter is up, but school is starting soon and I have tryouts and a summer project to do before school begins. Therefore, I'm gonna be very busy. I hope to get another chapter up before then, but I can't make any promises. So, something interesting about this chapter: it's in Rose's POV. I wanted to try it out and see what it's like because I was originally going to write this story in Rose's POV, but decided it would be better in Scorp's. Let me know what you think about this one. Enjoy!
Rose's POV
After Scorp rushed out of the library I immediately felt horrible about what I had said. Plopping down in the cushioned armchair I let out a big breath of air that –until now- I hadn't known I was holding in. The shocked look on his face after I interrogated him about his feelings for me was clear evidence that he didn't like me. Not that he should of course, I'm the one who's out of line here. I'm not supposed to like my best friend. It's a general rule and for a long time I had followed it, just like every other rule. But oh! This year when he visited us this summer things just seemed different. Every time our bodies would touch, I felt a buzz of electricity rocket up my spine, leaving tingles. It didn't feel platonic anymore. But liking Scorpius Malfoy is probably the stupidest thing that a smart person like me can do. Even if he did decide he liked me, which is already unlikely since he only sees me as a friend, it is practically proven that he wouldn't date me for longer than two weeks. Anyway, I'm supposed to love Lorcan, and I still do love him, the flames have only cooled a bit, is all. He's sweet, caring and I know he loves me so I stay with him because I know that Scorpius would never consider me or stay with me.
I solemnly return to the potions book I was reading earlier, but I can't seem to focus on it. After about another half hour of trying I get up and throw my supplies into my bag, I guess my homework will have to wait until tomorrow. Wow, Hermione Granger's (well Weasley now) own daughter neglecting homework. I generally like to have all my homework done, and it makes me feel secure when I have studied before an exam, but I bet that I would still be one of the top ten students if I didn't study at all. I will admit though that studying is what makes me best in my year. I am just like my mum because we're both crazy about school; I know that I would be crushed if someone else got a better grade than me, so I study. Because I'm the "smart one" that's who I am. James is the "cool one", Scorp the "hot one", Molly "the responsible one" Dom "the pretty one", the list goes on and on, but the rest of them don't need to put any effort into their titles and I do. Sometimes it's hard to spend so much time surrounded by a family of perfect people even though I love them all more than anything and wouldn't ever wish for a different family. Maybe that's why I'm always in the library. Truth be told, even though I spend a lot of time in the library, I'm not always doing homework. I'm actually read a good portion of the time. Not school books though. Traditionally I bring my own books from home because truthfully, muggle authors write my favorite stories, my all time favorite being The Golden Compass. Scorp gave it to me as a birthday present two years ago. He told me that he had recently read it and that it was amazing. True to his word, it was. I enjoy it so much that I always have it with me in case I have some spare time. I cried out in dismay as a page of that book ripped while I was trying to put it into the bag. I didn't like it when my books became tattered, but I didn't want to give up this copy, it had sentimental value. The conflict turned out to be too much for my frazzled brain to handle, another thing that I was putting off until tomorrow.
Tired and frustrated, my current goal is to get back to my bed completely undisturbed, crawl into my pajamas and go to sleep. Just as I am putting my foot through the door my best friend barrels into the room looking very flustered indeed. I try to get a grip on his arm to steady his balance, but that was probably a bad idea considering our extreme difference in size. We both toppled over and he landed on top of me, knocking the breath out of me. When I noticed the awkward position we were in I blushed the Weasley blush and struggled to get out from under his tall frame. After I started squirming, he seems to become aware of our position and leaps off of me as if I burnt him. I have to admit, that stung a bit, sure I may not look like his usual dates, but I don't think I'm that ugly.
Scorpius seems like he wants to say something so I wait for his mouth to form words. His mouth just hangs open like he doesn't know what to say. I wait for a few more seconds and when it becomes apparent that he is incapable of speech I open my own mouth.
"Scorp, I'm really sorr-" I begin trying to apologize about what went down earlier but he interrupts me half way through.
"Rose, I uh need some advice…" I was a little taken aback at the sudden subject change, but responded to his request immediately.
"Of course Scorp. What's up?"
"Well, what would you do if you saw something er bad happen. But uh it wasn't any of your business really and telling the people whose business it was would hurt them, but they had the right to know…" He trailed off. Jeez I thought, this must really be bothering him if he can't even form a coherent sentence. Especially because he is usually so calm and collected. My brow furrowed as I tried to think of a way to help him with his dilemma.
"So I'm guessing that you saw something," I began cautiously "can you tell me what you saw or who it concerns?" He shook his head but then seemed to change his mind.
"Maybe I can tell you… but I want to hear what you would do first"
"Okay it kind of depends on the situation, but if it's something important then I think you should tell the person it concerns," I gage his face for a reaction, hoping that I helped him with his predicament. His face is set in a mask of determination and…pain?
"Rose, I'm so sorry, but there's something you need to know," he takes a deep breath before continuing and I brace myself for the worst. What could he be talking about?
"I saw Lorcan, Rose he was snogging Sonya" He whispers in a voice so soft I can barely catch it. I would ask him to repeat what he said in case I misheard him, but I don't want him to say those words again. But I find the heartbroken emotion being replaced with confusion and finally; anger. Scorpius is lying to me! I know he is! His story doesn't even make sense. Lorcan barely even knows Sonya. He's faithful and he loves me, he'd never cheat on me with someone he knows I despise. Hell, he's even conceded that he doesn't think well of her either! Without a second thought, I slap Scorpius across the face for saying that. Albeit, the slap doesn't do much, I can barely reach his cheek and it ends up grazing his jaw instead. He doesn't look physically hurt. Not at all, but one look into his endless grey eyes tells me that he is deeply hurt emotionally.
"How dare you! How dare you lie to me like that! I know Lorcan, he would never ever cheat on me! And he would really never cheat on me with that bitch!" Scorpius looks even more shocked than before, but remarkably, he doesn't appear to be angry. He raises his hands up in a surrender way, but I'm too upset to acquiesce to a surrender.
"Rose I swear I'm not lying! You say that you know Lorcan, and I'm sure you do, but you know me too and you know that I would never lie to you! Come on Rose you have to believe me! I'm your best friend!"
"And Lorcan's my boyfriend! I know why you're saying all this stuff, it's because you're jealous!" I screamed at him. Thank god the library was utterly empty, even Miss Harps is off getting herself a late dinner.
"Jealous! I'm not- I mean… jealous of what?" Scorpius splutters.
"Jealous that I'm happy in a relationship and you'll never be! You will never ever find a girl that would want to date you for longer than a week Scorpius Malfoy and that's why you only date girls who you know you'll grow tired of before the week is up, so it's you who breaks up with them, completely free of heartbreak! I bet that you'll never ever let yourself fall in love because you're too scared! Maybe you shouldn't be in Gryffindor after all!" And with that final outburst I realize that I've said far too much. If I thought my comments in our previous row were out of line, this totally eclipsed it. I wouldn't be surprised if he never wanted to see me again. Oh what on Earth have I done?
Before I can cause any more damage I run out of the library as fast as I can, leaving a distraught looking Scorpius Malfoy behind me. He doesn't even look at me when I dart past. He just stands there like he's too shocked to move.
"I'm sorry" I let out in a whimper as I run by him and his head tilts ever so slightly, but he makes no other movements.
….
After racing all the way to the Gryffindor common room my face is a wreck. I know without even seeing my reflection that my eyes are red and puffy, my cheeks are covered in tear tracks and that my hair is a total disaster. Wiping my face I mutter "Albus" to the portrait. I almost smile at that. Al was so ecstatic when he learned the password to our common room though James constantly reminds him that the Fat Lady means Albus Dumbledore and not Al Potter.
"No no Scorp you can't come in yet, unless you told her," I hear James say. He tries closing the door on me and I recognize that they think I'm Scorpius. I quickly jump out from behind the door so that James can't slam it against me. When they see that it's me they all freeze like they've been caught red-handed. Then Hugo comes over and puts his hand on my shoulder, his eyes imploring me to tell him what happened.
"Scorpius and I got into a fight, a bad one and I…I" I burst into a set of fresh tears and Hugo gives me a comforting hug. I take a deep breath and continue in a whisper, hoping that they won't all hate me for hurting their friend. I know that Al, Hugo and Louis will stand by my side, but James and Fred are both guy's guys, I hope they don't think too badly of me.
"He lied to me Hugo. He lied. And I got so angry. I told him that he would never let himself love anyone because he was a coward and-"
"So he didn't say anything else, other than what he saw Scamander doing?" Al inquires coldly. I shook my head, surprised at his harsh reaction. Al is a big softy and always helps me out in situations like these. He shouldn't be mad at me, that's for James and Fred to do. When they both come to hover protectively behind me, James glaring at Al, I feel sorry for misjudging them.
"Al, don't talk to Rose like that, she just doesn't understand. Give her time." James voice was harsh but he clasped my shoulder in a gentle manner. Fred nodded in silent agreement. Louis came over too and stood next to Fred, James and Hugo. Al looked pissed when he noticed that they all took my side.
"What is your deal guys? Why are you helping her when it's Scorp who deserves help! Rose," he says addressing me this time. "stop being an idiot. Scorpius isn't lying. He saw them together and told us about it. You know he wouldn't lie about something like this!" I can't bring myself to believe this. I do know that Scorp isn't a liar, but the idea of my sweet boyfriend snogging someone he knows I hate sounds not only untrue, but hurtful. I just don't want to believe it.
"Rose," Hugo says to me kindly. "Maybe you should just go to sleep." I nod my head and slowly trudge to the stairs, more tears falling down my face at the thought of my favorite cousin, Al, being mad at me. I can't remember Al and I ever fighting or even upset with each other. We have always gotten along. A dull fire of hatred at Scorpius Malfoy blazes up half heartedly because I can't be truly furious when I feel so awful about what I said. But I cannot believe that Scorpius Malfoy has come between me and my cousin. The angel and devil appear on my shoulder. The devil eggs the hatred onward, while the angel tries to persuade me that Scorpius didn't want to come between us, it just happened that way. I shrug them off and climb into bed. I just wish somehow that this was all a dream and hopefully when I wake up tomorrow Scorpius and Al will be my friends again, and everything will be back to normal.
That night I have horrible dreams. Images flash in front of my eyes of Lorcan and Sonya. I reenact my fights with Al and Scorpius over and over again. But the last time I fight with Scorpius he says something instead of just standing there, and this is the scariest thing of all.
"You're right Rose, I'll never let myself fall in love…with someone like you" Then the Malfoy smirk comes out and suddenly it's Scorpius kissing Sonya, not Lorcan, and that hurts more than anything else. I wake up screaming because I have no more tears to shed. My eyes are drier than an empty cauldron.
I know it's wrong, but I can't go to class today. None of my supportive family members will be there. It will just be me Albus and Scorpius. I can't face them alone.
"You've got some nerve Rose Weasley. Telling Scorpius he's too cowardly to be in Gryffindor and then not being able to leave your own bed. You are a hypocrite," that little voice in the back of my head tells me. I weakly tell it to shut up and it goes away.
…
I hear a knock on my door a few hours later, it's Lily. She's brought me a plate of eggs and a bowl of fruit with a glass of French vanilla coffee, my favorite. Lily sits down on the edge of my bed and hands me the platter. I take the coffee and sip it quietly, but I can't eat the rest, my stomach feels like it's tied up in knots.
"Don't you have class?" that's the only thing I manage to get out. Lily shakes her head.
"No Rosie, I've got a free period now, so I thought I'd come up and stay with you."
"So, you know about…the whole crisis"
"Yes" she says simply. She doesn't elaborate and I'm grateful for it.
"Does the rest of the family know?"
"Oh yes, everyone in the family, but no one else I think. They're all on your side for the most part. Well, not really, most people don't really have a side. The rest of us just aren't angry with you. Except Al is you know."
"I wish that there weren't any sides, I don't want Al hating me because of this, and I don't want the rest of you to hate Scorpius just because we're in a fight."
"Rose it's not like that. For the most part there are no real sides. We're all still friends with Scorpius, but the rest of us feel bad about what happened," her face hardens for a second and her bright bronze eyes flash. "It's Al that I'm pissed at. That jerk had no right to talk to you like that, it wasn't fair at all!"
"What do the others think?"
"James and Fred agree with me, but everyone else is still friendly with everyone."
"Thank God" Is all I can think to say. I don't want this to become some big, stupid fight like those ones people watch on reality TV. I just want things to go back to how they used to be. I want to apologize to Scorpius, but I also need an apology about what he said about Lorcan and Sonya. Sonya has teased me about everything from my hair, to my clothes, to my brains for as long as I can remember. Having someone tell you that your arch enemy is snogging your boyfriend really hurts. I just can't figure out why Scorpius would say that. Sure, he doesn't appear to be particularly fond of Lorcan, or maybe he's sticking up for Albus, who hates Lorcan's guts. But I didn't think that Scorpius would make up some bullshit rumor for no reason.
I persuaded myself that I would talk to him and Al tomorrow, just to apologize and straighten things out. Today I would recuperate and talk to Lils about the whole ordeal. Lily is addicted to drama and probably knows how to handle a circumstance like this better than anyone else, she'll give great advice. I picked out a strawberry from the fruit bowl Lily got me and took a bite out of it. Tart, way too tart. My face scrunched up like I had just bitten into a lemon, it was sour and bitter. Sour and bitter, story of my life.
So that was Rose for you. I think I like writing in Scorpius' POV better because he's easier to write for, but I hope you thought it was kind of cool to get a look into what Rose is thinking. Sorry I made her act so mean to poor Scorp, she's very conflicted and confused right now, but they'll work it all out eventually!