Chapter 6: A WHAT Now?

Romeo, save me, I've been feeling so alone
I keep waiting for you but you never come
Is this in my head? I don't know what to think
He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring

"What're you humming Rosie?" the boy laying next to me asked.

"Oh, it's Love Story by Taylor Swift. You should know that by now, Scorp," I replied.

"Of course. Your favorite muggle 'love song' artist, right?" he asked.

"You know me too well, Scorpius," I said, teasingly flicking his hair out of his eyes.

Scorpius snorted. "Of course I do. We've been best friends for what now, almost five years?" He resumed watching the clouds.

It's the summer before 5th year. Scorpius and I have been friends for almost five years now.

Skywalkher had been together for the same amount of time, and though we've had our discrepancies, we've always managed to work things out. When we first started out, in second year, (we had to come up with band procedures in first year) we were regarded as the "weirdos", the people who weren't on any sports team or any club, really. We were immensely unpopular.

Let me explain the Hogwarts social structure:

Kings and Queens/Rulers of the School(the popular people - for the wrong reasons, you pretty much had to do what they said)

Nobles: Dukes, Duchesses(the Quidditch players, friends of the upper class)

The Nice-y, Artisans and Smart People(people the upper classes were nice to, people who had a special talent, and homework help)

Scum on Foot(and that would be Skywalkher)

Lina, Lizzie, and Michelle were Nice-y. They were pretty much the only Nice-y that hung out with us lowly Scum on Foot.

Then, Professor Minnie (McGonagall) made us play at the Halloween feast. As soon as Albus started singing with that angel voice of his, we were catapulted to the status of "artisans." Suddenly, the Nobles and Rulers of the School started taking notice of us. We were asked to perform at all kinds of parties. We were the main entertainment everywhere. Anyone who was anyone wanted us to play at their event. They paid us too. We got an average of 75 galleons from King/Queen parties, 50 galleons from Nobles, 25 galleons from Nice-y, Artisans, and Smart People, and 10 galleons from Scum on Foot. One time, in fourth year, we earned 500 galleons from a King/Queen party. We had to perform until 2 a.m. while the seventh years celebrated their last year. Poor Dominique Weasley and Richard Hughes. They were missing 250 galleons each from their accounts the next morning. Yes, Skywalkher has had an amazing four years.

Not to mention that last year, Harry started dating the beautiful Paolina Zabini. Poor Michelle. She heard that he liked red-haired girls, and dyed her hair red (more like a Lily Evans red than a Fred Weasley II red) permanently for him. And he went and chose Lina. Michelle cried for ages after that, and wouldn't speak to Lina for almost two months. I had to cancel band practice three times for her. Thankfully, she's over him now, but her hair is still red, whether she likes it or not. I think she likes Albus now, actually. I caught her staring at him quite a few times during the End Of Year Feast.

I looked back over at Scorpius. He looked so peaceful, lying there with his pale blond hair falling over his forehead, fingers tented, and a contemplative expression in his beautiful silvery eyes. Merlin, when did he get so handsome? I blushed at the thought and kissed him on the cheek.

Scorpius turned pink and looked at me. "What was that for?" he asked.

"Just because," I said and smiled, snuggling into his chest and sighing happily, "Just because."

Scorpius slung an arm around my shoulders. "You are a complicated person, Rosie," he said.

We continued staring at the clouds for another half hour before we got hungry. We wandered into the kitchen, holding hands.

Astoria Malfoy stood in front of the stove, making pasta. She turned around and smiled when she saw us. "Ah. So the two-fifths of Skywalkher finally decided to join us for lunch."

"Sorry, Mrs. Malfoy," I apologized, "It was just such a pretty day and the clouds were out–"

"It's all right, dear. I watched you two out there. It looked like you were having fun," she said, looking at our intertwined fingers.

"Yeah, it was great, Mum," Scorpius said, not letting go of my hand, "So... what's for lunch? I'm starved!"

I punched him in the shoulder and Mrs. Malfoy laughed. "Oh, Scorpius, always thinking of your stomach. Why, I remember this one time, when you were one, and I was changing your–"

"Mum!" Scorpius hissed, cutting off his mother, "Not in front of Rose!"

She rolled her eyes and whispered to me, "I'll tell you some other time, dear."

XXX

After a lovely meal of pasta (with tomato sauce for me and Scorpius, we were vegetarian, after all) and salad, Mrs. Malfoy went into the parlor and brought out three official-looking envelopes. She set two down in front of us.

"Oh! It's our Hogwarts letters!" I exclaimed. Scorp and I exchanged glances and ripped them open. A bronze badge fell into my hand. I looked over at Scorp and found that he was holding an identical one.

"Prefects," Scorpius whispered.

"Scorpius," I said, "We can't. We have band practice and all that, and there is no way that we can be prefects."

"I know," he said, sighing disappointedly, "But what can we do?"

"Well, according to the Hogwarts Rule Book, Section 401 Code 876.93, if two newly instated prefects cannot carry out their duty for a valid reason, that is, something that benefits the school or the wizarding community as a whole, they are allowed to give up their badges to two eligible people willing to carry out prefect duty," I stated.

"Trust you to memorize the Rule Book, Rosie," Scorpius snorted, "So, who do we give them to?"

"Um... I think I'll give mine to Michelle Corner," I said.

"The girl who was after Harry? Why?" he asked.

"Well, I know she's wanted prefect since she was in first year, and I figure she needs something to cheer her up, you know, get over Harry. Who are you going to give yours to?"

"Okay, you know that kid Noah Hill? He came to Hogwarts in second year. He's in our year now, very quiet, studious type. He looks rather responsible."

"All right, let's owl them now."

XXX

Dear Michelle,

Congratulations on being made prefect! Scorpius and I decided that the band was far more important to us than being prefects, and according to the Hogwarts Rule Book, we are allowed to give up our badges to an eligible candidate. Of course, I had to choose you, you are 100% deserving of this badge. Your partner will be Noah Hill. Good luck, and make Ravenclaw proud!

Love,
Rose

P.S. Do you like Albus? I saw you staring at him a couple times after the Harry fiasco.

Satisfied with my letter, I made my way up the winding staircases of Malfoy Manor to the attic, which Scorpius and I had dubbed the "owlery." I spotted my owl, Gabriel, immediately. Gabriel was a magnificent tawny owl with large silver eyes to match Scorp's. He was a present from Scorpius. We had gotten matching owls in second year (his was a tawny owl with amber eyes– my natural eye color), and Scorpius insisted he pay for them. It was because of my band idea that he had so much money, after all. He named his Peter and I named mine Gabriel. It was a perfect match.

I tied the letter to Gabriel's leg and whispered, "Corner Residence: Corner, Michelle Emily."

Immediately, Gabriel flew off, spreading his tawny wings in a grand sweep. I saw Peter to the same, then Scorpius and I walked back down to the kitchen, where Mrs. Malfoy was waiting for us with the third white envelope in her hands.

"I thought this was for Draco, but it's addressed to 'Skywalkher.' Here, take it," she said.

"Thanks, Mum," Scorpius said, grabbing the letter.

We went into the parlor and sat down on one of the very comfy couches.

"Okay, Scorp," I said, "Open it."

He opened it, read it, and, hand trembling, let it fall to the ground. Scorp had turned a deathly shade of white.

"What is it Scorp? Scorp? Scorpius? What happened?" I cried, concerned.

"R-r-read it, Rosie," he said shaking.

Now I was really scared. What had happened? I picked up the letter and started to read.

Rose Weasley, Scorpius Malfoy, Albus Potter, Lucas Zabini, and Harry Dursley:

You are the band known as Skywalkher. I have understood that you have had great success at Hogwarts, playing for parties and such. My son, Jonathan Smith, graduated Hogwarts last year and said you had played at one of the Hufflepuff Quidditch parties (he was the seeker on the team), and that you were fantastic. He recorded your songs and showed them to me. I must say, I am most impressed with your musical abilities. I had no idea that a bunch of thirteen year olds could sound so good.

I own a recording company, called Stars United. We have signed numerous artists, both muggle and magical, to our label, including the Strange Brothers (a wizard band) and Pink Night (a muggle band). Both have had huge success.

I would like to offer you the chance to sign with my label. We will have a two year contract, and you can choose to market to wizards or muggles, or even both. I think Skywalkher has amazing talent, and I would love to have the opportunity to work with such brilliant young minds.

I await your reply with baited breath.

-Zacharias Smith
Owner of Stars United

"Oh, Merlin," I said, "Scorp, we've got to owl Al, Luke and Harry right away."

"Owling takes too long. We have to Floo them. You take Harry, I'll take Al and Luke. Ask them to come over on urgent band business," he said quickly.

"Right. I'll take the parlor fireplace, you take the one upstairs," I replied.

I threw some green powder into the fire, yelled, "Dursley residence!" and stuck my head in.

I was greeted with an imposing scene. A tall, intimidating, black-haired woman sat at the head of a long table, a slightly fat, short, blonde man sitting beside her. Two small blonde boys occupied the seats opposite the blonde man, and a taller black-haired boy sat next to him. They were eating lunch in silence.

"Harry!" I cried.

The black-haired boy looked up. "Rose? What are you doing here?"

The black-haired woman's lips pursed.

"Band business! Come on!" I said urgently.

Harry must have sensed the desperation in my voice, because he threw down his fancy napkin and hurried over to the fire.

"Floo to Malfoy Manor! Now!" I exclaimed.

I ducked out of the fire, and moments later, Harry tumbled out, brushing soot off of his shirt. Scorpius, Al, and Luke were waiting for us.

I turned and faced them all. "You guys? We got a recording contract."

Luke spit out the water he was drinking on to Astoria Malfoy's 3,000 galleon rug. "A WHAT now?"

Oh My Merlin! They might be signed to a label! Should they? Should they not? And what will the parents say?

You know the normal procedure! REVIEW!

Love,

Kyo-Cat

(I'm gonna go with my name from now on)