I do not own these characters, JKR does. Thanks to everyone who reviewed.
I can't believe it's almost Halloween now. These past couple of months have been a blur. Thankfully, my workload is beginning to lighten somewhat because of the upcoming annual ball, a common topic of conversation amongst the bustling students in the hallways.
These free periods I've been spending with Rose alone have been amazing, the both of us becoming very close. We spend so much of the period conversing that each day they've become less and less about the studying.
"I hear Albus is going to the Halloween ball with some girl in Hufflepuff," she states, looking up from a thick, black, leather bound book.
"Is he going to be able to go, with all that extra work he's doing?" I ask.
"Yeah, the Headmaster says that everyone gets the day off from their studies on Halloween. He must be excited for tomorrow, finally getting a break."
"No kidding. I've barely seen him lately except when he's running from one class to the next."
She nods, agreeing.
"Are you going with anyone?" I ask, hoping she doesn't sense any tone of eagerness.
"No, I've been asked though." she replies. "You?"
"No, not yet."
A silence begins to fall between us, each of us returning to our books. I want to ask her but I don't want her to be uncomfortable, especially if she doesn't want to. We've become really good friends; I just don't want to spoil anything. If we are really good friends though, then everything should be fine, shouldn't it? Pushing doubts aside I muster up the courage.
"Rose, would you—" I begin.
"Would you like to go to the ball with me?" she interrupts. We look at each other, smiling. I can feel my face beginning to redden, and see that I'm not the only one.
"I'd be happy to," I reply, just as I hear footsteps round the corner to our table.
"Hey, guys," says Albus, beads of sweat on his face, a parcel in his hands. I recognize it as the parcel he received in the mail a week ago. "I ran here as quickly as I could to try and catch you guys. I wanted to show you this. It's a parcel I got in the mail from Dad, but I just got the chance to finally open it."
"What did Uncle Harry send you, Albus?" asks Rose, curiously.
"This," he says, pulling the contents of the package out of the box. He grabbed a handful of the fluid-like silver material and held it in front of him.
"Your dad got you a cloak?" I ask.
"It's kind of cool, though, don't you think", he replies as he wraps it around him. Suddenly I realise that everything from the neck down on his body has disappeared.
"Whoa! What happened to the rest of your body?" Rose asks, a look of complete shock on her face.
"Wait a minute," Albus says, thinking," "Don't you remember what Dad told us about his old cloak? How he would become invisible to almost everyone around him?"
"Oh yeah, I remember now. I can't believe he gave you his old cloak."
"Me neither. I guess he figures it'll come into some use, I don't know."
Albus quickly takes of the invisibility cloak, afraid of anyone catching him. Folding it, he places it back into the box, when the bells begin to ring.
"Is this period over already?" I ask, amazed at how fast time had gone by today.
"Yeah, apparently, but it's ok, we'll see each other tomorrow anyway," she states, matter-of-factly.
We both smile and leave the library and head to our next classes.
The next day came with surprising speed. There was more talk about the ball as each hour counted down to the next, and students who had not secured a date for tonight were scrambling around the hallways trying to find one.
Upon entering the Great Hall, I can hear a group of girls discussing excitedly about their dresses they were going to wear this evening, and who they were going with. The professors are all sitting and eating at the staff table, our Headmaster sitting in a gilded chair in the centre of the table. I look over to the Gryffindor table, and am surprised to see only Albus sitting there without Rose, talking to his fellow housemates sitting around him. I quickly walk over to my table and begin to eat, picking various foods from the laden trays in front of me. I look around the room, noticing the floating Jack-o-lanterns floating around the room, the ceiling enchanted to look like a clear blue sky, matching the sky outside. The entire room hushes as the Headmaster rises from his seat.
"Good day, students. As you all know, today is Halloween and as such, we will be hosting our annual Halloween ball this evening. The only rule I have is that you all conduct yourselves in a decent manner, and that you all enjoy yourselves tonight. As well, curfew will be in order tonight, and anyone disobeying curfew will suffer the consequences."
I look back over to the Gryffindor table and see that she still hasn't arrived yet. I wonder where she could be.
The Headmaster sits back down again, fairly pleased with his speech, and then the room begins to almost explode with the sound of chatter and laughter, when compared to the silence that fell when he had risen to speak.
After getting my fill of breakfast, I leave the Great Hall and begin to wander the hallways and corridors, trying to find some way to pass the time. Walking up the staircases, I stop at the library, wondering if she may actually be in here. Opening the doors, I walk down the long open room past the central desk, and make my way over to our usual corner. Looking at the table, I see that it is empty.
I leave the library, disappointed that I couldn't find her, then decide to go back to my dormitory and read until it came time to get ready for tonight's events.
As night fell like a black pall, the only light in the sky is that of the full moon and a sprinkling of stars, I begin to don my formal dress robes, the black velvet feeling so soft and light on my body. Content with my appearance, I make my way through the dark corridors of the dungeons and up the stairs towards the Great Hall.
Walking in, I realise that the enchanted ceiling is now a dark sky, causing the light from the Jack-o-lanterns to glow brighter. The tables had all been moved to the sides of the room, clearing the floor for dancing. I see that a few students have already begun.
Standing at the doors, I see her standing across the hall, talking to another girl. She is the most stunning person in the room. I begin to make my way over to her, weaving through the small crowds, not daring to take my eyes off of her. She is wearing a lavender silk dress, not too long but not too short; her hair is done up nicely, showing more of her beautiful face.
"You look very beautiful tonight, Rose. So elegant," I say, placing my hand on her bare shoulder. Her creamy skin feels soft to the touch.
"Oh, thank you Scorpius. I didn't see you coming. You look very handsome yourself," she says, blushing.
"Would you like to dance?" I ask, offering my hand out. She quickly grasps it, and we make our way to the centre of the dance floor.
A new song begins to slowly play, and I take her hand and wrap my other arm around her waist, bringing her closer. I can feel the heat of her body pressing against my own, and she softly places her head against my shoulder. I take no notice of the other couples around us. Right now it's just Rose and I and nothing else matters.
"I'm honoured to be your date tonight," I say sincerely.
"I'm glad you said yes," she replied quietly, keeping her head on my shoulder. Another silence falls between us, but we still dance in each other's silent company.
Finally the song changes again, and I reluctantly release my arm from her waist, separating us again. I continue to hold her hand as I lead us to a quiet round table on the side of the room. After pulling her chair out and letting her sit, I move to the chair beside her and sit down.
"Rose, I--," I start.
"Hey guys, there you are," interrupts Albus, running over to our table. "My date kind of ditched me when I told her I couldn't dance."
"Oh, that's too bad, Albus," says Rose.
I try to muster a look of sympathy for Albus but find it hard, being frustrated at him for coming at a bad time. He grabs the other chair next to Rose and sits down.
"I brought the cloak with me," he says, leaning in conspiratorially. "Was wondering if maybe you two wanted to go and walk around for a bit? Kind of test it out? This ball is getting boring anyway."
"Oh, I don't know," I begin. "What if we get caught?"
"We'll be fine, I promise," Albus tries to assure me. I look over and see that Rose is evaluating the situation. I hope that she refuses, not so we don't get into any trouble, but so that we can have more time alone.
"I don't think it'll be all that bad if we're quick," Rose quietly says to herself.
"Ok, good. Let's go then," Albus says, quickly jumping out of his chair, Rose and I following as he makes his way into the deserted entryway into the castle. Throwing the cloak over all three of us and making sure our feet are not seen underneath it, the three of us sneak out the front doors of the castle and out into the grounds.
We begin to make our way into a dark remote corner on the eastern side of the grounds, surrounded by large leafy trees and hedges.
"See, that wasn't so bad," Albus says confidently, looking around before removing the cloak from around us. Rose sits down in the grass, her back against a thick tree trunk. I make my way to sit down beside her.
"So, Rose, where were you all day today?" I ask, curious, trying to make conversation. "I looked for you at breakfast, then at the library but you weren't there."
"I was in my dormitory all morning, getting ready. I wanted to look perfect for you tonight," she replies coyly.
"You don't need to spend all day looking perfect for me, you do that everyday effortlessly," I say truthfully.
I can see Rose's cheeks begin to flush, even under this dark sky. She smiles at me. Albus is watching us intently, looking from one person to the other.
Another interlude of silence passes, Rose and I each looking at each other in passing glances, Albus still watching us, almost confusedly.
"Um, we should probably get back to the castle now," suggests Albus, uncomfortably, as he begins to open up the cloak.
"Yeah, you're probably right," I say, sighing. Rose stands up from her spot and we wrap ourselves in the cloak again, making our way back to the castle entrance.
Opening the door slowly, we look through crack and see that no one is standing in the grand entryway, and there is no sound of music or chatter coming from the Great Hall anymore. The curfew must be up now, I think to myself.
Entering the entryway, we remove the cloak as we begin to part ways for the night.
"Goodnight," I say. "Rose, I had a good time tonight. Thanks again for bringing me." I start to make my way towards the passageway leading to the Slytherin dungeons, when I feel a warm hand on my arm. I turn around and see that Rose is standing behind me. I turn around to face her, looking into her warm eyes, and she leans towards me and places a soft kiss on my cheek.
"Thank you for the wonderful time, Scorpius," she says, colour again filling both of our cheeks. She smiles and turns around, continuing her way up the staircases to her dormitory. Albus, a look of complete surprise on his face, turns to follow her. I watch as she climbs each staircase until she is out of sight.
Turning, I continue to quietly make my way over to the dungeons to my own dormitory, smiling broadly the entire way.
A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. As usual, please R&R. What do you guys all think of what's happening? Suggestions are most welcome, of course.