Disclaimer: It isn't mine!
Chapter 4
**Present Day: Mid-December, Seventh Year**
I stare down at the parchment, quill in hand. All I have so far is "A MESSAGE FROM MR. RANDY LONGBOTTOM TO MISS ROSE WEASLEY:"
So not a great start.
"My Dearest Rosey,"
Scratch that. She hates that name. I cross it out and start over.
"My Dearest Rosalie,"
Much better.
"I sent you this orchid, as I know it is your favorite flower, to confess my love to you."
She'll know it's from me with a line like that. How many people really know her favorite flower? I move to cross it out, but then a small part of my brain thinks, well you kind of want her to know it's from you, don't you?
Ugh. Whatever, I'll leave it. She won't remember that day I found out about the orchids anyways.
I continue on, "I wish that you will reciprocate my deepest feelings, for I do not know how to survive without you any longer."
Ha! Appropriately awful.
"I cannot remain enemies with you-"
I immediately scribble that out. This is supposed to be from Longbottom, not me. As if I'd ever send her a love letter that was actually meant to be from me.
I start that line again. "I cannot remain just friends with you, my darling, and I hope with my whole heart that you will love me as I love you."
I roll my eyes. How much sappier can this get?
"Yours truly, forever and always,"
I pause to contemplate what I'd write if this was actually from me. Can you really sign just a last name on a love letter? It's not like I could write 'Scorpius.'
But I digress. I sign Randy's name and enchant the flower to read the words back.
I wrap everything up and pass it to Alexis to deliver tomorrow morning, secretly hoping Rose Weasley recognizes my owl, even though I know she won't.
I sit up abruptly in bed. This is the fifth night in a row I've had this dream.
Maybe it's a sign, you airhead.
Yeah. I guess it's a sign I need to make things right with Weasley. I have yet to figure out what to do, and to be honest I've been avoiding the task.
Maybe I just need to end this the way it began.
I sent her a flower in front of everyone. A grand gesture from Randy Longbottom.
Maybe this time, I need another grand gesture. But it will have to actually come from me.
The wheels start turning in my mind, certain ideas jumping to the forefront.
The ball. The speeches. The photo booth. The mistletoe.
But I'll need help. I can't do this all myself, and the help has to come from someone she's close with so she knows how much effort I've put into this.
So who?
Lily Potter is off the list. She will immediately open her big mouth and ruin everything. Actually, there's no way I trust any of her female friends to keep quiet. And to be honest all Potters are off the list in general because I can't swallow my pride enough to ask either one. Longbottom is out as well since he's dating the loudmouth.
This leaves one person I can ask. Her brother. I've never had much interaction with him, but he seems at least diplomatic enough to listen to my case.
I make a mental note to write him a message tomorrow as I lay back down. I try to clear my head as I roll over, attempting to fall back into a sleep inevitably filled with dreams of Rose Weasley.
I haven't heard back from Weasley's brother, but decide to wait for him in the empty classroom near the library anyways.
Maybe he won't show up. Maybe this whole idea is stupid and this is a sign that I should just get over her. There's essentially only one semester left and then I never have to see her again anyways.
But do you really want to spend that one semester awkwardly avoiding her? Or do you want to spend it on top of her on the couch?
Ugh. I mentally tell myself to shut up and then realize how crazy this is. I've said it before and I'll say it again. This woman will be the death of me.
I snap out of my thoughts as the door opens and young Weasley enters. Much to my dismay, he's accompanied by Albus Potter. Great.
I scowl. "I didn't realize you'd be bringing friends along."
Potter snaps back without missing a beat, "Who'd be stupid enough to meet you in an empty classroom alone? For all we know, you were going to spring some sort of attack!"
"Please. Don't you think I have better things to do with my time than duel with those less superior than myself?"
He pulls out his wand and I do the same. "We'll see about less superior, Malfoy…" he starts, but Weasley steps in his path.
"Will you assholes shut up?" he asks exasperatedly, looking between us with eyebrows raised. He turns to face me. "What is it that you want, exactly?"
I lower my wand and watch as Potter does the same. How to start this?
"Well," I start slowly, speaking to Weasley and totally ignoring Potter, "as you may know, your sister and I aren't really on good terms right now." I see him smirk slightly and contemplate walking away and pretending this never happened.
"So basically, I am looking for your help to… umm… make things right between her and me?" I finish lamely, my voice going up in question, and I chide myself for being so weak.
I glance at Potter and his mouth is hanging open. "Something to say, Potter?" I scoff, gaining back some of my old confidence.
He's about to say something when Weasley interrupts. "What do you mean by 'make things right' between you and Rose?" he asks in an amused tone. I feel my neck heat up slightly and try to ignore it.
"I just think it'd be best to… I dunno…" I search for the right words, but Weasley once again interrupts.
"What exactly is this about?"
I shake my head. "I didn't realize this was Twenty Questions!" I say a little louder than intended. I continue slightly haphazardly, not meeting their prying eyes. "I'm just trying to say that the rumors going around about Weas- Rose and I might be true."
I continue to stare at the floor when Potter says slowly, "So you fancy her?"
I roll my eyes and glare at him. "Isn't that what I just said?!"
They both stare at me incredulously. This is worse than anticipated. I cannot believe I thought this was a good idea.
"Well then what's the problem? She obviously… uhrm… feels the same way?" Potter says stupidly. This is so uncomfortable.
"I messed things up, you idiots. Why else would I be asking you for help?"
They exchange a look and Potter's face shows skepticism. "You want our help?" Weasley asks. Before I can make a sarcastic quip in return, he continues. "So what is it that you want us to do?"
I start slowly. "Well I have this plan, see. Rose and I will be making thank you speeches at this godforsaken dance that everyone is so excited about. So I thought it would be kind of-" I pause and try to think of something to say other than romantic but can't, so I continue in a different direction, "- I just thought she would like a… grand gesture of sorts? I thought it might kind of win her over if there's a slideshow of muggle photos playing behind us…"
They look at me, waiting for the big punchline. I finish quickly, "Muggle photos of me and her, I mean."
I once again stare at the floor. "So I thought maybe you could get some pictures of us during the dance set up? And maybe help put together the slideshow?"
I wait for their responses, not making eye contact.
Potter finally opens his big mouth, asking, "And why are you asking us? Don't you have some idiot lackeys in Slytherin who can do this for you?"
"Don't be an idiot, Potter. I don't trust them as far as I can throw them. And to be clear, I wasn't asking you. You just showed up uninvited. But I figure that you guys at least care enough about Rose to keep this quiet and try to actually make it a success…"
"And what makes you think we want this to be a success? I mean do you really think we are going to support you dating my sister?" Weasley asks. So I guess I didn't really consider that. They've seen how I treated her over the years, so why should they believe I've changed now.
I start to walk to the door. "If you don't want to help, I'll figure out something else." My hand is on the door handle when Weasley suddenly says,
"So, are you in love with my sister?"
I admit, I wasn't expecting this.
I've asked myself the same question so many times. Am I in love with her?
Why else would I be going through all this trouble? What exactly am I planning on saying in that speech to her at the ball? I'm not just going to end with, "I quite like you." Seems anticlimactic, to say the least.
I turn around to face Weasley and Potter.
As I stare at a piece of peeling plaster on the wall behind their heads, I picture Rose Weasley's red hair and scathing glare, the fire behind her eyes when I kissed her without even considering the consequences.
I guess all the hate from the past 6 1/2 years really has changed into something else. Something more.
Maybe it's time for another leap of faith.
I take a deep breath, finally realizing the truth.
"I suppose so."
**End of October, Seventh Year**
"Let's go. I don't have all night. I need my beauty rest," I say with slight amusement, slight exasperation.
I watch Weasley's agitated face as she says, "Well, as much as I'd like to go, I can't move." I roll my eyes and make to exit the ball-planning room. Unfortunately, I don't get very far.
"What the hell?" I exclaim, now fully annoyed. "Is McGonagall trying to keep us prisoner or something? We've planned enough!" I shout into the hallway before letting the door close in front of us.
Weasley starts to question what we should do, when I see her features flash from frustration to realization. The mistletoe.
I panic slightly. Calm down. "Well, what are you waiting for? Give it a counterspell," I say, forcing myself to sound as nonchalant as possible.
"If you paid attention at all in class, you would know that there is no counterspell once you're underneath it, you prick," she says vehemently. So much for the niceties of a few minutes ago. "Two people are stuck under magical mistletoe until they kiss," she finishes matter-of-factly.
My eyes flash onto hers and I stupidly think for a split second that I should just go for it and kiss her. Instead I pretend to be calm and snap, "Excuse me? You expect me to kiss you? Obviously there's got to be an alternative."
I reach into her bag, swung over her shoulder, and pull out the book she used to find the mistletoe spell.
I lean against the doorway, hoping to appear bored rather than nervous. I start scanning the pages of the book intently, but I know I won't find anything of use.
Just kiss her, you moron. It's not like you've never thought about it. And now you've got the perfect excuse.
I shake my head slightly. Unfortunately, I know that if I kiss her, things will escalate. And I do not want things to escalate.
Come on, you know you think she's attractive.
And that's exactly the problem.
Plus, you've wanted to do this for years…
No I haven't.
Then why were you so jealous when that Hufflepuff showed up to detention with flowers for her?
I wasn't jealous. And that's a good point. She has a boyfriend. I'm not kissing a girl with a boyfriend.
My inner debate is interrupted by the very girl in question as she suddenly blurts out, as if reading my mind, "Tyler and I broke up."
I snap my eyes onto hers. She looks nervous and I watch as her cheeks heat up slightly. I close the book and stick it back in her bag, my stomach in knots. I let my hand fall from her bag to her wrist.
What are you doing, Scorpius?
I don't know. I don't know what I'm doing. I can't kiss her. If I do, I might never want to stop.
I make a snap decision and grab her hand. Her blue eyes widen, but as hard as I try to figure them out, they remain unreadable. But I know that mine aren't, and I try and fail to recover my normal blank stare.
Her hand is warm in my own and I feel the electricity coursing through my veins where my skin touches hers. Slowly I pull her hand towards my face, never taking my silver eyes off of her blue ones.
Just tell her how you feel.
Instead of saying anything, I brush my lips across her hand. Before I can do anything even more stupid, I give her a last look, the spell broken, and exit the room.
Once I get back to my bedroom, I lie down and let my heart rate slow to normal speed.
I need to get away from Rose Weasley.
**Present Day**
"Wow," Weasley's brother says quietly as I continue to stare at the wall.
"So she doesn't know about this?"
I scoff. "Obviously not, Potter! Why else would I sacrifice my dignity and ask you morons for help!"
"Cool it, you twat. Why don't you just leave us alone and go tell her?" Potter asks in exasperation and I debate how much to tell them. Weasley is eyeing me with curiosity.
I roll my eyes and sigh. "I feel like it's time I admitted things publicly. When Rose and I… snogged earlier this year-"
"You snogged my cousin?!" Potter yells, pointing his wand at me once more. I raise my hands in surrender.
"Yeah. And that's exactly the problem. I never acknowledged that it happened and treated her like crap afterwards. So now I feel it's time to acknowledge my feelings in front of everyone so she knows I'm not going to pretend it never happened."
Potter lowers his wand, but his cold glare remains. I glance at Weasley and he has a slight smile on his face.
"So at this point, you just want us to covertly take pictures of the two of you at the decorating sessions?" he asks.
"Yeah. Pretty much. And then maybe you guys can set up the slideshow with the pictures so it plays at the opportune moment."
They exchange another look and I wish Potter would've never showed up. There's no way he's agreeing to this.
But Weasley says slowly, "Sure. If it makes my sister happy, then why not?"
I feel my mouth open slightly in shock.
"But if you do anything to hurt her, I'm coming for you, Malfoy…" Potter says threateningly.
Weasley laughs and I don't know what to say. I feel my neck heating up again. "You may not have a reason to trust me, but believe me when I say I don't plan on doing anything to hurt her ever again."
The room falls again into uncomfortable silence.
"Alright then," Weasley starts, "see you at the ball decorating meetings?" I take this as my cue to leave and turn around to open the door.
We slowly exit the room into the crowded hallway. Weasley gives a nod, which I somewhat gratefully return before walking away.
Okay, that was rough.
But at least they're agreeing to help.
The plan to win Rose Weasley over has been set in motion. I just hope it works.
After all, I am in love with her.
A/N: So he has finally realized! All thanks to Hugo really. I definitely did enjoy writing their interaction... I will be working some more Hugo/Al/Scorp scenes into future chapters! Next chapter will feature a flashback to the detention when Tyler shows up with a flower for Rose. So we will finally get to see Malfoy's jealous reaction from his perspective! It should be posted by Sunday, but I know I have a busy week/weekend coming up, so if it isn't up by Sunday, it will definitely 100% guaranteed be up by Monday!
Thank you all for reading/reviewing/favoriting/following! Let me know your thoughts! :)
