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Chapter 7 – Friendship & Love

Rose had dozed off sitting next to Scorpius who was still unconscious, when she heard someone knocking on the entrance to her dorm. She was startled at the sound, she rubbed her eyes to check the time, there was still time for the ministration of the next dose of the potion. She opened the door only to find Zara Zabini and Stan Nott standing looking completely lost and extremely worried. For a second she wondered what they were there for, but one look at their concerned faces and she let them in without another word.

"We are" started Zara, "I know" replied Rose and wordlessly took them to see Scorpius. Both Zara and Stan seemed unable to look at Scorpius as they grimaced and turned away. Rose looked at them curiously. Zara had started sobbing into Stan's chest who was consoling her but looked pretty distressed himself. They sat down in chairs far away from the bed but still could see Scorpius .

"When will he wake up?" Stan asked, though he wasn't looking at her, Rose understood this question to be for her. "He is getting better" Rose said more to convince herself than to answer the question.

Zara was crying again. She went and sat next to Scorpius in the seat that Rose had just vacated to let the duo in. Rose felt an irrational anger well up in her. "I am so sorry Scorpius" Zara cried holding his limp hand. Stan moved forward and put his hand around her.

"Its that…we…" Stan stammered unable to say anything.

"I know" said Rose coolly.

Stan and Zara looked at her in an expression of mingled shock and surprise.

"We dint mean it you know" Stan said now looking at Rose with a desperate expression.

Rose nodded curtly. Before she could stop herself, she had asked "Then why did you?"

"We..Zara and I, have known each other all our lives. We were best friends, Scorp was a good friend but not as close as we were, until we came to Hogwarts! Though we were sorted into different houses, Scorp in Ravenclaw and the both of us in Slytherin, our friendship got stronger. We were close. Then suddenly last year, Scorp asked Zara out and she accepted. I was ok, Scorp made sure I was ok. After a while it was not ok with me. I realized I had strong feelings for Zara. They made sure that I never felt left out, but that made things worse. The more I saw Zara with Scorp, the more I became miserable. I …I just flipped. Then I told myself, I would maintain distance, so this vacation even though Zara and I were in the same house as our parents had made their plans together, I made sure I avoided her. I just kept to myself. She confronted me on Hogwart's express and …and I finally lost it and confessed my love to her and she broke down too and we kissed. He…He saw us then." Stan stopped speaking unable to continue.

Zara stifled a sob.

Rose looked at her. "I love Stan in a way I can never love Scorp" she let out a small sob, "he felt betrayed I know, but..If only"

"He understood, you know" Rose said softly.

Both Zara's and Stan's eyes were on Rose now. "He was upset that you both had betrayed him, not let him know. He had walked in on his girlfriend and best friend kissing, he was obviously hurt but he thinks you both are meant to be, he told me that." Rose said looking at the unconscious form of Scorpius intently.

They sat in silence for some time, until the alarm rang.

"Now if you'll excuse me, I need to attend to Scorp" Rose said briskly.

"Thank you Rose" Zara said hugging Rose. Rose was startled but managed to pat the Slytherin girl lightly on her head.

When Zara and Stan walked out, they saw Rose making some complex wand movements. What they dint hear was Rose whispering to Scorpius holding his hand with both hers, "your friends dint betray you Scorpius..it was just love"

"Ro..se" he said again.

"Wake up Scorp, its nearly time, please wake up" Rose said urgently unable to keep the desperation out of her voice.

She kept talking to him, until he finally fluttered his eyes open. He looked at her weakly obviously unable to comprehend his situation.

Rose quickly sent another Patronus to Madam Pomfrey, who as expected was there in no time.

"How are you feeling now dear?" Madam Pomfrey asked Scorpius kindly.

"I..I feel heavy.." he said looking dazed.

This elicited a short laugh from Madam Pomfrey, "But of course young man, you are under a very heavy potion, but otherwise do you feel any pain or discomfort?"

He took some time but said "No".

"Well great then! Ms Weasley I hope you can continue the ministrations? Or would you like some rest?" She added the last bit kindly.

"Oh no Ma'm I'll take care of him" she replied brightly.

Madam Pomfrey gave Rose an odd look but gave her a quick smile and left immediately.

"Rose?" Scorpius asked her inquisitively "What happened?"

Rose recounted the events that transpired that had led him to his state of unconsciousness. Then explained with difficultly her role in it and blushed profusely as she did.

She saw a small smile on his face. She was thankful that he was not well enough to smirk, that smirk would've been the undoing of her.

He let her do all the talking while he listened. He sat up for a while when he had to take the potion again. The potion had tasted so horrible he wanted to throw up, but she helped him swallow it instead with the spell she had used all along. He was grateful, he asked her to sit next to him on the bed. As soon as she did, he put his arm around her waist, pulling her closer, "What would I do without you Rose?" he murmured as he slipped off into sleep. Rose tried to free herself but his grip was strong. She finally managed to fall asleep as well. Since Madam Pomfrey had asked her to reset the potion alarm clock to 3 hours as he was awake now, she slept the longest she had in the last 24 hours. When the alarm went off, she woke up with a start, only to realize Scorpius was awake and watching her.

She looked away awkwardly. He however continued staring at her.

"You need to drink the potion Scorp" She said quickly recovering from her embarrassment and hurrying forward to take the potion. "I'll drink it" he said, taking the potion from her and drinking it, this time without the use of the spell.

"Oh then I think I'll leave" Rose said, wringing her fingers. Scorpius looked at her and nodded "sure, but make sure you are back in 5 mins" he said seriously.

"Uh? I am not your house elf Malfoy!" she said sternly but turned away smiling, expecting him to say she was. She heard him say softly "I know Rose, you are not!"