Two years ago Malfoy and I loathed each other. The only reason we didn't get into too many fights was because of our constant obsession with avoiding one another. But when we did disagree or got in each other's way it always ended with spells. We both won our fair share of duels. One time he knocked into me causing me to drop all the books I was carrying without a glance back, so I used the bat bogey hex. When I called him an 'arrogant egotistical moron with dyed hair' he decided that giving me a rabbit's tail and teeth would be a good punishment. The most famous incident was after he said to me 'are you sure you're not a squib?' and I replied 'compared to your magical talents equivalent to a trolls' which certainly passed his tolerance limits. He shot the first spell but after I deflected it we engaged in a rage infused battle. It came to an abrupt halt when Neville disarmed the pair of us. I had so many bruises I couldn't count them all. This sparked the ongoing silent treatment. Madame Pomfrey was sick to death of us always sending one another to the Hospital wing and complained to Professor Longbottom. It was decided that our time tables would change so we didn't share any classes and when in the same room one had to leave. Now, we seemed drawn to each other. An overwhelming sense of curiosity consumed me when he was around. My main motive was to catch him out and get him in trouble, but a small part of me wanted to know more about him. Somewhere between the period of intense hatred and the impending silence we reached this stage of growing curiosity for the other. Unlike many unanswerable questions from my past I knew this one. I remembered the exact moment when I realised I didn't want to hate a Malfoy anymore - even though my blood contradicted this thought.
It was May in my fifth year at Hogwarts. I had just finished all of my OWL exams and decided to visit Calypso in the Forbidden Forest. Most people had gone to Hogsmeade to celebrate but my last exam was that morning so I had to stay behind. The sun was beginning to set as I walked beside the lake back to Hogwarts when I saw Scorpius sat alone on the floor. Scorpius and I had barely spoken two words to each other after the huge duel at the start of the year so why I went over to sit next to him I don't know. Usually I would ask what was wrong but I knew that was the last thing he needed. Instead I started talking about Calypso and the Giant Squid. My constant stream of talking seemed to calm him and as the sun met the horizon for the first time in my life I said something friendly towards him.
"I don't want to know what's wrong with you. As long as you know I'm going to stay here and annoy you until you feel a bit better."
He looked utterly dumbfounded and to top it all off I pulled him into a tight hug. After gripping his rigid back for a few seconds I pulled away but instead is arms fastened around my waist as he placed his chin on my shoulder. I had never told anyone about this. How could I? Secretly, I hoped he had forgotten all about it. For the following months until the end of term, we tried to avoid the other at all costs. I remember causing all sorts of trouble to distract him and allow me to slip away. Maybe aiming one of Fred's Inferno-ball fireworks at him was a little harsh? At one point I ran into the boys bathroom to stop him passing me on the corridor. I caused an awful lot of screaming that day.
It looked like we were destined to carry on causing chaos to prevent chance eye contact which we successfully did, until the second to last day of term. I went into the Forbidden Forest to give Calypso a ferret before her journey back home the next day, but even though I searched all the usual places I couldn't find her. The hippogriff herd were eating in the clearing and after bowing a couple of times they let me stroke a few of them and search for Calypso in their group. Eventually I went to Hagrid and asked if he had seen her but the last time he saw her was three days ago. Anxieties filled me, I refused to leave her behind tomorrow and I insisted on searching but Hagrid said he would look overnight since it wasn't safe. I returned to the common room and saw James which gave me an idea. When James turned 16, Harry entrusted him with his invisibility cloak since he said and I quote 'have fun with it but don't tell your mother or get in trouble.' Obviously James used it for a variety of pranks and kept the secret between his family. I asked him if I could borrow it and when he looked at me suspiciously I hastily added that it was to play a prank on Lily. He deemed this a worthy quest.
Once he lent me it I slipped out the common room and walked to the forest with my wand alight. I searched until I got hopelessly lost in the darkness and still no sight of the golden feathers I desperately searched for. Noises erupted from all corners of the woods and I began to run from the shadows chasing me. Since my eyes were half closed I ran into a low-lying tree branch and coldness began to fall across my cheek. Hopelessly lost I took off the cloak and whispered 'lumos' as my legs compressed to my chest. Hours must have past and just when I thought I would have to defend myself all night a firm grip pulled my arm and led me out of the forest. Paralysed with fear I couldn't make out the image of my hero until we stepped out of the canopy and the moonlight framed the figure before me. Scorpius' face mixed with anger and concern was inches from my own. My knees buckled causing me to fall to the floor in shock. He placed my arm around his shoulder and led me back to the common room. How we were not seen I will never know - he must have practiced sneaking around the castle a lot. With everyone else in bed the room was empty. He placed me on the chair and moved strands of hair out of my face.
"Shh it's okay, your safe." He said.
The darkness still haunted me, I shook violently from the cold and terror of my experience. Without warning he pulled my body into his chest allowing the shaking to ebb. Eventually, I calmed down and regained my normal composure.
"You're scared of the dark aren't you?" I felt his chin move on my forehead.
Answering felt like telling him about my Achilles heel so I remained silent, unfortunately he already knew the answer. His hand stroked my hair rhythmically which instead of lowering my heart rate, raised it. His eyes fell on my cheek and my fingers touched the area of his gaze. Blood coated my fingers causing me to half smile.
"At least there weren't any vampires." I teased to calm myself down.
His smile faltered, then he grabbed a tissue to wipe the blood. The sky was a dark purple which meant it was well after midnight. When my face was clean he moved away to sit on the other end of the chair.
"I won't tell anyone." He mumbled.
"Thank you, James would kill me if he knew..."
"Not about that, about the dark thing."
"It's not really a fear just... kinda..."
"Goodnight Weasley."
With that he walked off to the dormitory, I recalled everything he had done for me that night and called back after him.
"You didn't have to repay me." He knew I was referring to the lake and I swear I saw him pause for a minute before carrying on.
The next day I had to pass my tree wound off as a scratch from my nails in my sleep, it was the best I could come up with. James asked about the prank when I gave him back the cloak but I ended up saying I was too tired so fell asleep. At breakfast before we left to board the train an owl arrived with a message from home. Apparently Calypso arrived home yesterday on her own. That's why Hagrid now has to take her, so he can teach her to fly high enough so muggles don't spot her. Some people still believe they saw a flying horse. Muggles really are crazy! Just as we were getting off at Kings Cross, Scorpius walked past me calmly and for the first time in our lives we smiled at each other. The alliance had formed.
The upcoming week went quicker than usual and despite the huge workload I was enjoying it too. Before I knew it the first saturday of the year had arrived which felt like the perfect way to top off the week. James and Fred had started the tradition of the clan as they called it meeting up on Saturday evenings to make sure we would see everyone at least once a week. In the morning Blair, Abby and I went to give our permission letters to our head of house and then went to Hogsmeade. The Three Broomsticks was as packed as always so we just managed to get a table, Blair brought over three butterbeers to the table. Abby managed to drink hers in thirty seconds flat, even Blair couldn't help looking momentarily impressed. The glass left her face displaying a foam moustache, fits of laughter crippled me causing the drink to spray out my mouth over the table. Before anyone saw the culprit of the mess we ducked out sneakily. We stocked up on sweets from Honeydukes then wandered back over to the castle. They went their separate ways and I headed to the usual gathering point. Lily saw me first and hugged me before I even saw her.
"We are just waiting for Albus and Roxanne now." She said cheerfully.
With impeccable timing, the two of them showed up as soon as their names were mentioned. Roxanne was extremely talented at sneaking up on people, probably since she had a lifetime of practice to get revenge on Fred's practical jokes. The group assembled and we headed towards our hidden hideout. Lily wrapped her arm around mine and we led the group towards the Whomping Willow. A good fifty meters seemed a safe distance from the lethal tree. Hugo stepped forward with a large barn owl perched on his forearm. He offered Pluto a stick which he gingerly took before swooping over to the base of the tree and dropping it on a knot. The tree immediately stopped swaying only to freeze in mid swing. Pluto soared off to the owlery and we hurried to the gap between the roots in the tree. This had been our routine every Saturday since the clan came to Hogwarts. Fred got the idea from a story Harry told us all about Ron being dragged by Sirius (an animagus dog at the time) through this exact passage. Since James and Fred (before he left) couldn't find anywhere to practice joke spells and curses they decided to find one. Weird I know. They seriously needed a social life. Now it was perfect for a large group of us to hang around in. The only draw back was making sure no one saw us, oh yeah and the killer tree.
Just at the tree broke free Albus skidded into the tunnel just in time, a couple more seconds might have reduced him to a battered mess. As a precaution someone always had their wand poised to say 'immobulus' in case someone got held back. After a short slide down followed by a walk the tunnel forked into two paths, one was blocked with rocks so we took the other. The blocked path lead to the old location of the Shrieking Shack. The building itself was burned inside to nothing more than ash during the battle of Hogwarts. To most people the reason for this was unclear, but we knew why. Harry told us the bravest man he ever met was killed here in a psychopath's relentless quest for power. To cover up the murder the shack set ablaze not five minutes after Harry left. Only the framework and rubble remained there now. Fred had forged this new path which led us to a ladder and eventually a trap door. Soon we stood in the barn we knew all too well. James had discovered this barn years ago when he got lost on his first trip to Hogsmeade. Twenty six years earlier, Hogwarts was host to the Triwizard Tournament - which my Uncle Harry took part in. Tragically, the games ended with the death of Cedric Diggory causing the games to be banned ever since. During the games many mythical creatures were imported to 'entertain' the audience. This barn housed everything other than the dragons, such as a sphinx, blast-ended skrewt and acromantula.
The two of them had spent hours using magic to make this place an awesome den. The compartments for the animals now housed chairs with fabric hanging from the walls. Naturally half of the giant barn had been used as a dueling arena compete with dummies. Lily and I raced to the cushion corner to face plant in the fluffiness. She pulled out a bag of Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans. Like always my first one physically made my eyes water in disgust - fingernail how lovely. Albus and Hugo always called us easily amused but there was something extremely entertaining about watching Lily's face crumple in revulsion. A blood flavoured bean exploded from Lily's mouth as I munched happily on a banoffee one. Roxanne walked over laughing at our faces being contorted into bizarre expressions from vile flavours. With a firm grasp she pulled me over to the others who were in the dueling area. This always happens. For some reason they all pick fights with me because I got the highest OWL grades when in fact my combat skills were average at best.
"Ah so that's were you were hiding." Hugo said.
"I want to battle Ro first!" Roxanne announced causing everyone to exhale loudly.
"Now hold on, who says I want to battle you lot!" Like always they ignored my protests.
"Come on, please." She said as she walked a few paces opposite me.
My back was against the wall with this one - literally. My opponent fired the first curse, I quickly deflected, shot my own hex and she ducked.
"RULE CHANGE!" A voice yelled behind me.
In a surge of movement Albus and Lily joined my side as Hugo, Lucy and James lined up in Roxanne's ranks. Soon curses shot around the room, occasionally crossing paths creating brightly coloured sparks to cascade down. Family or not, this was war. Using my ninja skills I tucked and rolled through the battle zone and found myself behind Roxanne. She span round, sent a hex but I managed to jump out the way and shout 'Dyes Jaune.' The exposed skin turned a neon yellow and everyone burst out laughing.
"I take it we win." Albus cheered.
Seconds later James uttered something and I felt a cold sensation in my neck.
"Don't drop your guard Rose." He said with irritating conceit.
When I raised my wand to retaliate my tongue refused to obey. Well done James, the langlock curse, very mature. I put my hands on my hips staring at him unimpressed. The trip back to Hogwarts was, no doubt, filled with yellow and mute jokes. Roxanne and I made a telepathic agreement to get them back for the mocking when the least expected.
Everyone - except me - said goodbye as we split apart at the base of the stairs since the house entrances were located all over the castle. By then Roxanne had returned to her normal skin tone but I remained silent. James promised he would reverse it when he decided the victors had been appeased. As always on a Saturday night the common room was full. People talking, laughing and working. James and I took the usual place near the window, the view was beautiful from up here, you could see the tallest towers with a starry backdrop to illuminate them. There was a loud cheer as Leo climbed in through the portrait hole and strutted over to us.
"What have you been up to now?" James asked skeptically.
"I'm shocked! You don't recognise the Captain of Gryffindor's Quidditch Team?"
"Well done bro, now if we don't win I can blame you."
"Blame yourselves, you're the seeker and Rose you're a chaser."
Unable to thank him I smiled to the point of pain - not being able to open my mouth didn't help either. The resulting smile made me look like I was suffering. He noticed my lack of communication and turned to James with a mischievous expression.
"What's happened to her?"
"I took away her voice."
"Are you Ursula?"
"Wait. What?"
"My sister likes a film about a mermaid and Ursula takes her voice."
"Very masculine."
Leo replied by shoving James off his perch on the ledge to sit opposite me himself. He held my neck, moving it around softly and mentioned something about a kiss usually working. I turned down his offer point-blank by violently shaking my head. Instead he tapped his wand on my throat and after a few strained coughs my voice returned.
"Thanks Leo. I was worried I would have to actually listen to James for a moment there."
"Well, if you need a handsome Prince you know where I am."
Snorting chuckles escaped me at the sight of his wink. Not one of my most attractive moments. His mock offence only lasted a few moments until he took my hand and kissed it.
"Parting is such sweet sorrow, I shall count the seconds until we meet again fair Princess."
"And I you dear nobleman."
"Lay off, go hit on your girl posse Leo, not my cousin!" James interrupted.
This seemed like a good time to leave. As I walked off to my dorm I saw Scorpius directing a murderous look at Leo. What was his problem?
There had to be a Disney reference somewhere. Thank you for reading and please review.