Chapter 6

Second Year

This was it, the end of the year, and the Quidditch Final. Slytherin vs Gryffindor, possibly the most common opponents throughout the history of Hogwarts. Rose sat in the changing rooms and held her bat firmly in her hands, which were becoming increasingly sweaty.

"Just do your best." The Captain, Macy, whimpered, simply too nervous to give a substantial pep-talk. They rose to their feet, and stepped out to meet the crowds.

Rose had been on the team since January, and now it was nearly July. The whole team was impressed with the twelve-year-olds talents, and treated her like the baby sister. She only hoped that Taylor didn't see her like that as well. He gave her a wink as they mounted their brooms side by side. As the beaters, they had their own connection, and regarded each other as friends as well as team mates. Rose was ecstatic that she got to spend so much time with him that she even ignored her friends making jealous comments.

Just as Rose's blush began to fade, she saw something that made her heart stop. The roars of the crowds were drowned out, and all she could hear was silence. There, standing with the Slytherin Chasers, was Scorpius.

She had no idea he was on the team. Maybe James didn't know, or he just didn't tell her. She had been careful to avoid him as best she could. It didn't stop them being in the same classes, but she never looked at him. She didn't let herself.

But now she was looking at him. She couldn't stop. And he was too, their eyes pulled together as if by some invisible force.

And then the whistle shattered through them, and Rose had to kick her legs to get things working. But it proved useless, and she found herself not shooting upwards, but steadily rising, getting to grips with flying and trying to prevent herself from losing it.

"It's a bit of a shaky start for Weasley there, but we've all seen her impressive beating, so let's not be too quick to judge- and the new Chaser, Malfoy has already got the Quaffle- blimey he's not wasting any time is he? He's heading to the goal before the opposition can even get their act together- Malfoy passes it to Warburton, Warburton shoots- can it possibly be the record for quickest score- NO! Just a shot too low, there- oh, but Malfoy's speeding after it- isn't that the keeper's job?- and he's caught it- he's taking another shot from the opposite side, and it's through!"

Rose watched, lost in mid air as she witnessed Scorpius dancing through the air. He had mentioned his father being a seeker once, but he was obviously a natural Chaser.

"Will the ref allow a backwards shot? YES! It's ten- zero to Slytherin!"

The Gryffindors shrieked their protests but the Slytherins were victorious, chanting Scorpius' name over and over, until it became just nonsense jumbled together-

"ROSE! Are you going to get to work or not!?" James bellowed, as he sped past her.

"Oh, right!" Rose was furious at herself, being distracted by Scorpius, but not as much as James. He narrowed his eyes and flew away from her, leaving Rose to keep an eye on the bludger that was running adamant without its beater. Speeding after it, Rose aimed at the Goalie, who was about to take on a shot from one of Gryffindor's chasers. It worked- he had no idea which ball to concentrate on and just flew out of the bludger's way, allowing the Quaffle to simply slip through the middle hoop.

"BRILLIANT maneuver by Weasley!"

She felt herself glow inside with pride as she took off after the bludger again, who was heading for one of their chasers.

Meanwhile, Scorpius was still getting to grips with his first game. He had known Rose was on the opposing team, but by the way she was staring at him at the beginning told him she was unaware that he had gotten onto the team just last month. But it felt good to have her freely looking at him again, without shame, without worry. And also, he was pretty pleased that she got to see his first goal. But he told himself to forget about her, and got stuck back into the game.

The game continued, and Slytherin scored again and again. Rose had no idea that Scorpius was such a good shot- he could certainly rate himself next to Julio Diaz, Gryffindor's own star Chaser. As he scored his seventh goal, he didn't take a lap around the pitch, he didn't even punch the air; he just fell back once more, his eyes always following the Quaffle.

About half and hour into the game, James leveled himself with Rose after she shot a bludger towards one of the other Chasers.

"Okay, Rose, it's time we took out Malfoy."

He was half concentrating on their conversation, half scanning the large expanse for the golden snitch he sought after. "If he scores three more, then we have no hope of winning, not even if I catch the snitch."

Rose had felt the heat wash over her face, and she looked to James. He seemed oblivious to her reaction, watching Scorpius do a hairpin turn as Diaz intercepted his pass with a slightly sinister expression.

"See, he won't take his eyes off the Quaffle. Even if the beater performed a nice little dance in a tutu before it came at him he wouldn't notice. Just come at him from the side and he won't know what's hit him- look he's in possession- go, now, use that bludger that's tailing McEvoy!"

"But…"

"GO!" James yelled urgently.

Dizzily, Rose took off after the stray bludger. As she sped through the air, the crowd melted into a clash of emerald and scarlet, and everything slowed down. Once again there was just silence, apart from her heartbeat, racing and racing, it's tempo quickening as she gained level with him. James was right, he didn't notice that she was parallel to him in the air as he caught up with the goal posts and she caught up with the bludger.

"I can't…" She whispered to herself.

"ROSE! I SWEAR!" James threatened, not needing the finish that sentence. She visualized the disappointment of her team mates, her whole house. And James wouldn't let her forget it. Her friends wouldn't let her forget it. Taylor most certainly wouldn't speak to her ever again.

Just miss…She told herself. Just try and miss!

Squeezing her eyes shut, not wanting to look, not wanting this to be intentional, she swung her arm in front of her and for the first time hated the feeling of something showing such solid resistance, and then giving way.

--

Gryffindor won, James had scooped the snitch up in the fifty seventh minute, just twenty after Scorpius had been taken off to the Hospital Wing. In the common room, they held their celebrations, everyone passing round the cup to admire it. Rose sat with Taylor, aside from the vigorous celebrations, as he discussed their good hits.

"That distraction was fantastic! Just what we need- quick, instinctive beating." He said, grinning at her and holding her eyes with his. She was beginning to feel as if someone had slipped some firewhisky into her butterbeer.

"Hey, Rose, nice playing today." Julio Diaz- mostly known as just Diaz- commented in his lilting accent, winking at her as he sauntered by, followed by a flock of glassy eyed girls. With his tanned skin, well-built frame and stylish ponytail, girl's found it hard to resist him. But Rose was a little too intimidated by him.

"Thanks." She tried on a smile. Nothing felt good. Not even winning. Everyone knew that she was the reason they had won today. She had taken out Malfoy, who was bound to win the match, snitch or no snitch, single handedly for Slytherin. She was a hero.

Rose just couldn't see this as a good thing. Even though she had no allegiance to Scorpius, not anymore, she still felt as though she owed him in someway. She was the one who had walked away, she shouldn't make things worse. She wondered how much pain she had put him in. It felt like a wound in her side; she'd have to carry the scar with her for the rest of her life.

James came over, smiling to his friends, and nodding to Taylor. But when he turned his gaze on Rose it turned lifeless.

"Rose. Can I have a word?"

She expected another congratulations or something along those lines, but when she felt James grip her shoulder a little harder than necessary and steer her towards a secluded corner it became clear that pleasantries weren't what he had in mind.

"Watch what you're doing." He murmured, with such menace that the hairs on the back of Rose's neck stood up, "You've been doing so well, doing the right things, making the right moves. I'm watching you." He said, his eyes darker than she had ever seen them. Rose was terrified. Before she could even ask what he was talking about, he had slipped off into the crowd, and a moment later she heard his braying laugh.

Bewildered, she made her way back to Taylor.

"What was that about?" He said, smiling at her as she sat back down.

"Oh, he just wanted to tell me well done." She lied, feeling worse than before.

Just then, Madison, Joanna and Dorothy walked by, no doubt following their new, collective obsession- Diaz. They caught sight of her and Taylor rolled their eyes and stalked on. Rose frowned after them, wondering why they had to be so snide all of the time.

"It just wouldn't have happened without you," Taylor carried on; "Once you knocked that git out of the air it was just so easy to beat those slime balls."

Rose winced, the casual insults like a slap. And she was just so close to telling him off when she discovered that his face was a lot closer than it was before. His breath was a lot heavier and humid. Rose's crystal eyes grew wider as she took in his own brown ones. They were a lovely brown…

"You're amazing." He rushed, "You're just about the best beater I've ever seen, and the prettiest."

And he kissed her. It was short, sweet and slightly awkward. Rose had no idea what to do. Instead of everything slowing down like it usually did when surprising things hit her, it just went too fast. Rushing sounds in her head, the murmur of Gryffindors becoming a loud, nagging buzz. He was in the year above, had he kissed other girls? Did they kiss better than she did? Did he really think she was pretty?

--

Later, Rose lay on her bed, still in her Quidditch Robes, staring up at the canvas, and just listened to the sound of her own breathing. Things were slower again in the cool shade. She replayed that moment again and again until she knew she'd never forget it.

"Ooh, Rose got a bit of action tonight!" Joanna giggled, bursting in with the other two. They laughed with her, sweeping across the rooms to their own beds.

"He's not even that good-looking. His nose is weird."

"Not like Diaz's…" Dorothy sighed, "His is so cute."

Rose ignored them, like always, glad that she had a boy with flaws, instead of one so unattainable it must've hurt whenever they saw him.

"I can't believe he actually kissed you! You're a bit skinny." Madison commented, brushing her long silky hair that Rose had always envied.

"And ginger." Dorothy muttered, but loud enough for everyone to hear. They burst into laughter that sounded like death cries. Rose couldn't help feeling a little prick of irritation now. Wanting to distract herself from hitting them, she got up and began to change into her pajamas.

"So, I guess that puts an end to you and Malfoy then?" Joanna said scathingly. Rose froze.

"What?" Madison demanded.

"Oh yeah," Joanna said, as if she had forgotten all along, "She didn't want me to tell you. Sorry."

Rose felt all her blood rush to her ears.

"Oh shut up and tell us. What's this about her and Malfoy?" Dorothy begged. Rose looked to Joanna pleadingly, but she was too busy looking at herself in the reflection.

"She told me that she still thinks about him all the time, even though she doesn't talk to him anymore." She said nonchalantly.

"Shut up!" Madison shrieked, looking to Rose, "I can't believe it! Wait until your cousin hears!"

"I don't fancy him!" She said desperately, "I just miss him sometimes; I could tell him anything…he helped me in my first year, on my first day."

"But he's Slytherin." Dorothy said slowly.

"He's a person." Rose snapped. She was sick and tired of this prejudice. She was sick and tired of being hushed and silenced. This is what gave the three girls the impression that they could walk all over her. And she had let them.

"Just don't tell James." She said calmly, although her pulse was racing.

"What if I did already?" Joanna said, smirking. With what felt like a punch to the throat, Rose remembered James' private and chilling words with her. It slid into place.

And suddenly, it became very clear to Rose.

You didn't have to be in Slytherin to be a traitor.

And you didn't have to be in Gryffindor to be a kind, gentle and loving person. Sometimes fate took the wrong turn, but Rose knew that it was never too late to turn back.

"Just...piss off." She said wistfully, and bolted out of the room.

So in her pajamas, she raced down the stairs, through the portrait hole- much to the late night partiers' confusion- and didn't stop running until she reached the Hospital Wing.

--

REUNION! It'll be so beautiful...sob

We love Diaz ;D

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