Chapter 7: I'm Going To Do It, Just Not Right Now

My mood definitely reflected the November weather outside, cold and dreary. I didn't sleep last night. I didn't eat this morning. I didn't wait for Scorpius and Rose before I left for Charms. I sat alone in the classroom. The silence was deafening. Today was the day we turned in our Potions projects. Our Wolfsbane potion was complete and perfect, our paper was written. Everything was ready to turn in. But I didn't want it to be. What if it wasn't done would Teddy give me an extension? I just need more time, I'm not done yet.

"Awe is little baby Potter sad because he can't force Hamilton to spend time with him anymore?" Scorpius sat next to me doing his best baby voice. I felt my face grow hot and I knew I couldn't deny it after that.

"Oh Scor don't be so mean to him you used to be the same way with me." Rose said as she sat on the other side of him.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever." He said waving her off. She got that pissed look on her face and knew he'd pay for that later. "The thing is Al, you're too chicken shit to do anything. You're practically in love with this girl and it takes all your power just to form a coherent sentence around her. It's been six weeks have you even tried?"

"Yes you twat, we talk."

"About what, surely not your feelings for her? No that would be way too difficult. I bet you just talked about school like the little swot you are." My hands clenched involuntarily. He was really starting to piss me off. "But do you know what Al, eventually guys are going to realize that you won't do anything about it and they'll come in. They'll charm her; sweep her off her feet and all that other bullshit. She'll stop thinking about you and move on."

"Are you trying to get a rise out of me?" I asked.

"Yes you bloody cad! Get angry and go get your woman." He glared intently at me, waiting. My shoulders slumped.

"I can't" I felt defeated. I couldn't face the rejection. I was put in Slytherin for a reason. Self-preservation is key. Gee I was in such a swell mood today I'm even being sarcastic to myself.

"Al, do you want me to talk to her?" Rose asked leaning around Scorpius, who looked severely disappointed.

"Rose he already emasculates himself enough, he doesn't need you to do it too." Scorpius is really pissing me the fuck off. So what if I contemplate sabotaging the potion for a few more days with her? So what if I don't tell her how I feel, she already knows anyway. Scorpius can shove it up his ass. In fact I'll do it for him shove his shiny little head even farther up his ass. Maybe that would wipe that stupid smirk off his face.

"Hey Al you ready for potions?" I almost screamed, and that would have been horribly embarrassing. She grinned at me. "Awe did I scare you?" She asked teasingly.

"Maybe a little." I mumbled.

Oh come on Al don't go back to being quiet we've come so far. Don't make all this training for naught." She laughed and I couldn't help but smile. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Scorpius and Rose blatantly staring at us. Well I'll give the meddling little shits something to stare at.

"Training me? What do I look like a dog?" I could feel myself smiling as I looked at her.

"Maybe a little." She said holding up her thumb and forefinger showing me how little.

"I'm offended Miss Hamilton. In what way do I look like a dog?"

"If I told you that, I'd have to kill you." I almost burst out laughing at her completely straight face. She sat up straighter. "Besides, I would hate to have murder on my hands at such a young age. It would ruin my nonexistent future." Her face split into a grin after a moment. It lessened however when Redding fell into the seat next to her.

"Ri-Ri can-"

"Don't call me that. It's annoying." Redding just waved her hand in dismissal.

"Whatever, I was just trying to butter you up-"

"You failed."

"Shut your face hole and let me speak." She waited a few moments before speaking again. "So I was wondering if I could copy your homework before the Prof gets here. Hettie wouldn't let me and Katie didn't do hers."

"Eliza you can't copy someone else's work it's against the rules. I won't stand for it." Rose said huffily.

"Well it's a good thing you're sitting down." Riley said pulling out a scroll of parchment from her bag.

"Yeah ginger snap go make out with your boyfriend, I have a limited amount of time here." Redding said snapping her fingers in Rose's direction then huddled over her incomplete assignment and Riley sat reading her the answers. I know it sounds creepy but I watched her all through class, I couldn't help myself. I felt like this was the last time I would ever be this close to her that she would somehow realize that I'm not worth her time. She no longer is obligated to spend time with me. I wish I had said something. I wish Scorpius wasn't right; I'd rather kill myself than admit that out loud.

The bell signaling the end of class came far too soon. Begrudgingly I stood and gathered my things and walked out the door. I followed slowly behind Rose and Scorpius, not sure if I should wait for her or not. I looked over my shoulder at her, Smith and Redding were whispering to her as she rolled her eyes. Ray just kept pushing the group down the hall. At once all four of them looked up right at me. I turned around facing forward, but I know they saw my ears turn red. I heard her say goodbye and run up next to me.

"Hey Al." She said falling in stride with me.

"Hey."

"Are you alright? You seem a bit depressed."

"Do I?" So she noticed what's the big deal, other than the fact that I feel like I'm about to vomit, not much.

"Yeah." She paused for a moment playing with her hands, twisting the ring on her right hand. "Uh Al?"

"Yes?"

"Hettie has a theory, and um, well you know what never mind. It's nothing. Let's just get to potions and turn in our project." What the hell? Smith has a theory about what? Is that what they were whispering about? Was it about me? No it couldn't have been, could it?

"Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?" I asked she bit her lip thinking, and looked at me out of the corner of her eye. She looked forward and threw her head back. She stopped walking and sighed. I turned to look at her and she had her finger pointing at my face.

"Look Potter, I'm not one to beat around the bush. I know you like me and that you were really pumped about being my partner, and to be honest I wanted to just die. But now that we've talked and you've calmed your tits about being in the same room as me, I think we can call each other friends. So you don't have to work your cunning Slytherin mind too hard in thinking of a way to coerce or blackmail me into spending time with you. I think you're a fairly decent person and if I hated you I would show it. So stop acting like a depressing little prat and deal with it." She stomped her way past me and down the stairs into the entrance hall. I don't want to sound weird or anything but I was practically skipping the rest of the way to the dungeons. Rose and Scorpius looked at me as I walked into the classroom. I must have had a ridiculous look on my face because they both were looking wide eyed at me. I just shrugged at them and slid into my seat next to her.

"Took you long enough to get here. Did you stand gob smacked in the middle of the hall after I left you?" She asked me.

"Yeah, well you sort of surprised me." She rolled her eyes and grinned.

"Well maybe you shouldn't think so little of people next time." She shook her head still smiling and turned to face the front of the room while Teddy lectured. "So what were you planning on doing to spend more time with me?" She asked. My heart stopped for a moment. For a Hufflepuff she's pretty damn smart, that or her friends are. Why did she have to ask me that?

"Uh, I was going to mess up the potion." She turned to glare at me.

"Really Potter? You were going to make me have a shitty grade so you could continue with your…well whatever you thought we were doing?"

"Since when do you call me Potter?"

"Since you started to act like an idiot." She said simply. Well I couldn't argue with that logic. Class passed by without incident. We turned in our project halfway through while our potion was brewing, as we turned it in however Teddy gave me a horribly obvious wink before sending us back to our seats. I could die of embarrassment; the whole class was trying to hide their laughter as we sat down. I could tell she was trying her hardest not to give a reaction.

"What's the deal with everyone? Do they have nothing more exciting in their mundane and pathetic lives than to stare at us because we did a potion together? It's like they all have rodent sized brains and are distracted by new and shiny things. That and you're already in the papers every other week, so they want to get the exclusive or some other bullshit. Bunch of tossers."

"Aren't I supposed to be the cynical one?" I asked laughing.

"Oh didn't you know we're switching roles for today. I'm going to be the depressing judgmental, who hates the world and everyone in it, and you get to be the one with the amazing personality that everyone adores. I figure you deserve to have a break from your difficult life as a cynic. It must be very hard on you to keep up with all this pent up aggression and not to mention your melodramatic attitude." At first I couldn't tell if she was joking or severely pissed off. But then she grinned at me and it felt like all my troubles just vanished. I couldn't help it I busted up laughing. She joined in and soon we were leaning on each other so we wouldn't fall. I think the class might have died of shock. I just so happened to notice Scorpius out of the corner of my eye. He was gesturing frantically toward her. I gave him a 'what the fuck' look. He glared at me before mouthing. 'Make a move.' I'm pretty sure there was an expletive at the end as well.

"So um are you going to the game next week?" I asked her I saw Scorpius face palm and Rose smack his shoulder. She looked at me and rolled her eyes.

"Well duh. My Puffers are playing. I can't just not go. Why are you going?"

"Eh I'm thinking about it. But I'll probably skip it won't last that long anyway."

"What makes you so sure?"

"Have you ever seen your house play?"

"Eh, true, but I'm still going. I have to cheer Garrett and Katie on." Why does she have to cheer that little prick on? Isn't there some stupid chicks before dicks things she should just cheer on Ray, and then Fredrickson will get hit in the face with a bludger and go into a coma and I'll comfort her when she gets upset about it. Fuck, Potter, what is going on in your brain?

The bell rang and everyone packed up to leave. She said goodbye and smiled before leaving the classroom. I put my bag over my shoulder and turned to see Scorpius staring at me.

"What?" I asked walking to the door. He of course followed.

"You call that making a move? You asked her about bloody quidditch!"

"Yeah so?"

"When I say make a move, I mean ask the damn broad out."

"Don't fucking call her that."

"Oooh excuse me, I wasn't aware that you suddenly became a gentleman. Please forgive me your grace."

"I'd really just like to beat your face in."

"Well you can't do that because then you'd have no friends."

"Yes I would. She said we were friends."

"Yeah, sure, I'll believe that when you can actually say her name."

"I can say her name." I growled at him.

"Really? Care to share?"

"Not particularly no."

"So ignoring the fact that you can't say her name, what makes you friends? Have you ever hung out when not doing something school related? Have you pulled that metaphorical stick out of your ass and let her in? Can you give her a hug? She's a very huggy person. Not very British if you ask me."

"I didn't." He continued as if I hadn't even spoken.

"Because if you really like her you'd think you'd want to date her and do the whole couple thing. And that includes touching each other. Do you think you could handle that Alby? I don't know if you're ready for that stage yet. I think you're still in the 'Ew cooties' stage. But hey who am I to judge."

"That is exactly why you should stop, Scor. It's Albus' life, you shouldn't meddle." Rose said appearing out of nowhere.

"You're one to talk. Ray runs and hides every time you walk in a room in fear that you're going to attack her with another round of questions." Rose slapped his arm and led us into the Great Hall, and to the Slytherin table.

"I just think you should be more considerate of your friend's feelings."

"Pfft. Al doesn't have feelings, unless Hamilton is in the room. What I say has little to no effect on him, other than anger. And Al," he turned to look at me. "You need to do something about it. You're a horribly dreadful person, but then she comes around and you're as happy as Rita Skeeter when she's invited to a dramatic social event, well maybe not she has that creepy happy thing-" Rose cut him off.

"What he means Al is that no one has seen you this happy in years. We want you to be happy Al, we all do; Scorpius, me, your parents, nana and grandpa Weasley, we want the old Al back. And besides, it would kill James to see you that ecstatically happy. Just think about it, you would have someone and he'd be alone, because he can't hold on to a girl for more than a week." I let Rose's words sink in. Yes I would be happy, but would it be worth the rejection? Yes I think it would. Think of all I could gain with her. If she said no I'd be exactly where I am now, but if she said yes. Merlin, that would be the day. But I don't want to do it now. I looked up at Rose who was glaring at Scorpius, apparently I missed something.

"I'll do it." Their heads snapped over to look at me, both of them slack jawed and wide eyed.

"What?"

"Did he just-?"

"I can't believe it? Tosser grew some balls."

"I'll do it, but I'm going to wait until after the Holidays. Set the New year off right." Rose smiled at me. She smiled that smile, the one that said she really just wanted to hug you she was so happy, but thankfully she refrained herself.

"Albus I'm so happy. Would you like me to tell Katherine? I could ask her and Riley's other friends to-"

"Damn Rose, let the man do this on his own. He doesn't need your help." She glared at Scorpius. And let the bickering commence.

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