Chapter Six-Bad Behaviour
The light glimmered under her heavy lids. Through her thick lashes, Rose could make out a white ceiling with very few cob webs. She closed and opened her eyes once more before resisting the heaviness of her eye lids. She forced them open and peered around.
She was clearly in a bed; her whole body was sweltering under the thick sheets. The room was brightly lit and fresh. Rose turned her head to look at a spotless side table to find her mahogany wand and a large glass of water that had gathered dust at the top. She sat up slowly, staring at her surroundings.
There was a long line of single beds stretching across the whole room on the opposite side of Rose; each had a bar around the top of them, supporting curtains. She turned to her side of the room to find the exact same display of beds. Rose blinked again and again until it sunk it; she was in the hospital wing.
Rose flopped back into her bed, but immediately regretted the decision after receiving a jab of pain at the back of her head. She hesitantly reached to the back of her head and traced it until she found a bump. She cringed at the injury and rolled onto her other side.
A large curtain was drawn around the next bed; Rose could just make out a figure behind the creased fabric due to the sunlight. Dear me, she thought sadly, I wonder what happened to them.
Flashes of flying spells burst into her mind. There was Albus and Scorpius and nothing else. And then the image of a sunken body in a pool of blood filled her mind, the figure was crying in pain from his brutal injuries. THE DUEL! Thought Rose quickly.
She threw the sheets off her body and jumped out of the cozy bed, despite the dizziness that swept her body.
"Oh no you don't," Came a highly sophisticated voice. "You get back into that bed Miss Weasley!"
Rose turned hesitantly to see Madam Pomfrey bustling down the wide aisle towards her, robes of silver and yellow billowing everywhere. She froze on the spot, determining whether to make a run for it or not. The nurse pushed her forcefully back into the bed and yanked the sheets over her once more.
"But Madam Pomfrey," Complained Rose. "I have to stop the duel!"
Madam Pomfrey shook her head in a frustrated manner. "No dear, the duel is long over."
She turned to the bedside table and began to pour a green substance onto a tablespoon. Rose furrowed her brows. What did Madam Pomfrey mean?
"What time is it?" She questioned. "How l-long have I been h-here?"
The nurse shoved the spoon into her mouth.
"Take this," She encouraged. "You will feel much better. You hit your head rather harshly my dear, you were knocked out cold when they brought you to me. Nothing compared to that poor boy though. Only Professor McGonagall could heal that Scorpius Malfoy, cut up badly he was....oh yes! You have been here since yesterday lunchtime. It's about eleven am, you're friends promised they would visit you soon."
Rose tried to concentrate on the nurses rambling, she was confused. She had been here since yesterday. Did that mean the duel was yesterday? Scorpius Malfoy was in the wing too? She looked to the hidden hospital bed and let out a low gasp.
"What happened, Madam Pomfrey?" She asked frantically. "I hardly remember anything."
The nurse looked up sadly. "I'm afraid I don't know dear. I wasn't filled in on anything except that there had been a damaging duel between two students. You may need one of your friends to inform you." She gave Rose an apologetic look and hurried down the aisle once more and into her office.
Rose curled her arms around her legs and rested her head on her knees. She was praying someone would visit her; she needed to know what was going on.
There was sudden shuffling and moaning coming from the concealed bed. Rose watched cautiously as the figure, who she assumed to be Scorpius Malfoy, turned restlessly. She narrowed her eyes at her anguished enemy. She wasn't going to help him! He had called her a mudblood, she wasn't even sure if that was the case. Both her mother and father possessed magical abilities, only her mother's family were muggles. Rose thought of herself as half. That wasn't going to affect her opinion of the...unreasonable, selfish, unsophisticated, repulsive boy that lay next to her.
The moaning continued for a little while longer, Rose sat with a bored expression in her bed, fiddling with her wand as her only source of entertainment. Suddenly, the noise from behind the curtain ceased. She whipped her head in Scorpius' direction, much to the protest of her aching head. Maybe I should see if he is dead or not, wondered Rose, Do I actually need to see the horrendous damage though?
She decided it couldn't hurt to check on him, what's the worst that could happen? Rose tip toed out of the hospital bed and towards his. She gripped the curtain lightly, hesitantly, before pulling them open ever so slowly and only just enough for her to fit through.
Scorpius was lying perfectly flat on his back with his eyes closed, one arm resting by his side and the other above his head. The damage was not nearly as bad as Rose though it would be. There was minor scarring across his face, mainly on his chin and lower cheek. He was paler then usual however, and this would be due to the tremendous blood loss. Only one scar really stood out. It was red and thick as it stretched from his jaw bone to the bottom of his cheek bone.
Rose bit her lip. Despite the hatred that flooded the space between them, she could feel pity too. What had happened to Scorpius was something no one should have to experience. She wanted the reach out and trace the scar on his face, but knew she might've ended up strangling him instead.
"I hate you so much right now," She muttered both to herself and him. "I really do."
Rose turned and made to leave the injured student when he spoke clearly. Almost as if his injury was a fake.
"Have you come to murder me?" Teased Scorpius. "No need for that, the medicine is already doing a mighty good job."
She turned and glared at the heartless boy. "It's too bad you didn't die back at the duel."
"I almost did," He snapped. "Say thank you to your cousin for me, and tell him that I'll catch up to him soon. I'd like to get better acquainted with the ever so gallant Albus Potter."
"Over my dead body," Snapped Rose. "This is between me and you, not your friends or my friends, your family or my family. It is our hatred and not theirs."
"You are a nasty piece of work," He noted. "Probably a coward to. Why are you in the hospital wing? Because of a bump on the head. Why am I n the hospital wing? Because I almost died. Why did your idiotic cousin duel me, and not you?"
Rose glared at him for a fraction of a second. She wasn't going to stand there and absorb his vulgar insults. She stormed towards his bed and raised her hand. Despite the vicious cuts he had received earlier, she slapped him, right across the face.
It was a minute before either of them had worked out what happened. Rose was still fuming but didn't leave. She waited for Scorpius' reaction. It never came. He stared into space, completely ignoring Rose.
She yanked open the curtains, concealing her eyes which were welling up with tears. She didn't bother to close them again; instead, she threw her sheets over her and curled into a little ball. Rose had used up her energy just fighting with Scorpius. She closed her eyes slowly and let the fatigue take her.
.................................................. .................................................. ....
"Is she alright?"
"I'm not sure, why don't you slap her?"
"Tristan!"
"What, it could work!"
"Please be quiet, just let her sleep."
Rose groaned. Who was disturbing her sleep? She rolled onto her back and opened her eyes. Huddled over her were five familiar faces. Albus, Paul, Elizabeth, Tristan and Laura were standing over her hospital bed, she felt quite claustrophobic.
"You're awake!" Exclaimed Elizabeth. "It's about time too."
"We were just about to slap you," Added Tristan. "It could've worked."
"You were," Scolded Laura. "Not us."
"Elizabeth was willing," Murmured Paul, his eyes didn't leave Rose's face.
Rose smiled. "Hello everyone, I'm glad you decided to show up."
Everyone burst out in protests, giving excuses as to why they were late. Rose scrunched up her face, she didn't need to hear their excuses, she was only glad she had better company.
Her head turned towards Albus who was being unusually quiet. She to wanted yell and scream at him for being so foolish and juvenile but didn't have the strength.
"Hello Al, you weren't in the hospital wing were you?"
He shook his head. "How are you feeling?"
"Better." She answered truthfully. Everyone was silent for a moment. Rose took in all their faces, relieved that someone had come. She frowned.
"Where's Holly?"
The group looked around nervously. Rose started to panic.
"Well," Said Elizabeth. "She's being...she is having a meeting with Professor McGonagall..."
Rose's eyes widened. "What? Why is she meeting with the Headmistress?!"
Paul knelt down and gripped her hand. "McGonagall wants to have a meeting with every student involved in the duel. Holly should be here any minute, I've already had mine, and Albus is next. Most of the Slytherin's went this morning."
Rose closed her eyes and breathed heavily. "Can someone please tell me the consequences?"
"We don't know," Answered Albus. "We're all receiving different punishments. I assume mine and...that Slytherin's will be worse then yours."
She placed her hands over her face, forcing Paul the let go. "That is brilliant." She muttered into her hands. "Absolutely fantastic."
There was a sudden boom and the Hospital Wing's heavy doors flew open. The whole group turned to find Holly storming down the aisle with an unreadable expression.
"Miss Aberdene," Begged Madam Pomfrey who had flown out of her office. "Be quiet, we have patients trying to rest."
"Sorry Madam Pomfrey," Muttered Holly. "I assure you though; some people do need to be punished." She shot a maddening glance in Scorpius' direction, and then one at Albus.
"Holly," Teased Tristan. "If you want to make a dramatic entrance, please go somewhere else, where people aren't dying."
She huffed unnecessarily and pushed into the group.
"Hi Holly," Muttered Rose. "How are you?"
"Don't be silly!" Exclaimed Holly. She threw her arms around Rose and gave her bone crushing hug.
"Alright everyone," Said Elizabeth. "Let's give the ladies a moment to reunite."
The group shuffled out of the hospital wing with looks of regret, especially Paul.
"The question is," Corrected Holly. "How are you?"
Rose rolled her eyes. "I am perfectly healthy. It is only a small bruise on my head, which is actually your fault...how did you manage to stay out of the hospital wing?"
"Well," Said Holly. "Erm...my head landed on your school bag..."
"Of course," Said Rose knowingly. "Only your head would fall on a school bag to save you from concussion."
The area was silent for a moment. Rose glared at the hidden bed; she had a feeling he was listening.
"I had a meeting with Professor McGonagall." She said quietly.
Rose nodded. "How was it?"
"I didn't have a lot to say," She admitted. "I told her about everything that had been happening with you and Scorpius and what had happened before the duel."
"I can see where this is going," Muttered Rose. "This is going to be horrific. I need to keep a perfect record and marks but I'm not sure I can do that with this situation. You know how easy it is for me to stress."
Holly grabbed her shoulders and shook them. "Calm down!"
"Holly," Whined Rose. "Stop s-shaking me!"
She ceased the violent wake up call and both girls took a deep breath. There was a loud clatter on the floor and the Hospital wing fell silent. Rose held her breath. She slowly reached towards her robe pocket but couldn't find the object she wanted. She bit her lip.
"What's this?"
Rose whipped her head around the find Holly examining the pendent. She gulped.
"Err...nothing," She panicked. "I have to return it to someone, can I have it back?"
"It's beautiful," Holly gushed. "It's absolutely-why does it say Rose?!"
Rose closed her eyes. "I don't know Holly; it's not mine, now please-"
"Where did you get that?!" Came a new voice. Both girls turned to find Scorpius staring at the pendent. He was gripping the curtain for support.
"It's none of your business, Malfoy," Snapped Holly. "Go away and sulk."
"Give that to me!" He demanded. "That's mine!"
"No it's not!" Retorted Rose. She stood up and snatched the pendent from Holly. "I found it, it belongs to someone else. How dare you try and claim it!"
"It was my family's pendent," He yelled. "I want it back!"
"It's not yours!" Yelled Rose. "Why are you being so rude?"
"Because I need it!'
"No, it's not yours!"
"Yes, it is! It is my family's!"
"No, it belongs to a first year! I clearly saw him drop it out of his bag!"
"Then he's a thief!"
"You're a thief!" Yelled Rose and Holly in unison.
"Dear me!" Called Madam Pomfrey. "What is going on out here?"
The hospital doors swung open and Paul, Elizabeth, Tristan and Laura came running onto the scene.
"What's going on?" Called Elizabeth. "Another duel already?"
There was uproar of yelling and threats. Rose stuffed the pendent inside her robe pocket and glared at Scorpius.
"Alright, alright!" Shouted Madam Pomfrey. The room fell quiet and all eyes were now on the tired look nurse. "All visitors please remove yourselves from the Hospital Wing immediately."
The group turned reluctantly and left the scene.
"Where's Albus?" Rose heard Holly Whisper.
"He's gone to have a meeting with McGonagall." Tristan Replied.
Rose jumped back into her bed as did Scorpius. The pair sat in silence, watching Madam Pomfrey.
"Headmistress McGonagall and I have arranged for you, Miss Weasley, to leave the Hospital Wing in half an hour for you to go to her office." She stated. "Mr. Malfoy, you are to see her tonight as well. Now, for heavens sake, please keep to yourselves."
Madam Pomfrey turned on her heel and rushed down the aisle. Rose fiddled with her fingers, keeping her eyes anywhere but on Scorpius. She was sure he was doing to same.
"I don't know what you're doing Scorpius," Said Rose. "But this pendent is not yours, and nothing you say or do will make me give it to you."
"Do you want to bet?" He questioned darkly.
"Yes, I do."