Disclaimer: Ixnay on the ownership. It ain't mine!
Chapter 7
The next morning, I go to breakfast and immediately scan the Slytherin table for their reigning king. But Malfoy isn't there. So I guess he is still in the hospital wing. Luckily I am spared the task of asking about him as Al shows up wearing a large grin.
"So I've got terrific news!" he shouts boisterously. "Allison just informed me that Malfoy is going to be in the hospital wing for the week!" Several people at the Gryffindor table cheer.
"Yeah, apparently he has many broken bones, although those are most likely mended by now. But his multiple concussions are what're keeping him in there. Not a real quick remedy for those, I guess."
Hugo jumps in, "That arse deserves it."
"Sure does," Al agrees. "And another plus to this whole situation is that you won't have to deal with that prat for a full week, Rosalie!"
Except for the fact that I plan on delivering his assignments directly after breakfast. "Yeah I know!" I say. "Finally my luck is changing!" They don't need to know about the assignments. Not that it's a big deal. I mean any decent Head Girl would deliver homework assignments to an incapacitated Head Boy. It's pretty much a given in this scenario.
Lily and Randy walk in a few minutes later. As Randy sits down, he remarks, "So Malfoy is still in the hospital wing then?"
"Yeah for the week," Mack says. "Concussions, apparently."
"I don't care what's wrong with him as long as it hasn't ruined his beaut-" Lily starts, but is immediately cut off by several phrases of disgust.
Al looks like he's about to puke. "Please do not let me ever hear you use the word beautiful in reference to that slime commonly referred to as Malfoy."
"Yeah, Lils, I think my ears are bleeding," Hugo states grimly.
Lily shakes her head. "Oh come on! Just because the kid is a git and his personality is more disagreeable than Filch's on a bad day, doesn't mean he isn't good-looking! Rosey agrees with me, I'm sure."
I put on a fake dreamy tone and say, "Oh he's just gorgeous. And you haven't even seen him shirtless!"
Hugo covers his ears. "Dear God. I hope you are joking."
No, not really. "Of course I'm joking, brother dearest. The day I think Malfoy is good-looking is the day that McGonagall is spotted in a miniskirt." He laughs and Lily rolls her eyes. She of course knows that I wasn't joking, as I told her about my encounter with a shirtless Malfoy.
Then Al says a bit sternly,
"So you were joking about Malfoy being good-looking, but not about seeing him shirtless?" Lily hides her laughter behind a hacking cough and I feel my face heat up slightly. I cover it up nicely, however.
"Obviously I have not seen Malfoy shirtless. When would this have happened, Al? I mean unless you are referring to all of those nights when I've been secretly hooking up with him." Al looks stunned for a brief second and then catches the sarcasm. "Plus, I'm pretty sure that image would haunt my nightmares forever, so I'm not planning on it happening anytime in the near future."
Al finally looks completely convinced and laughs. "Yeah, I guess I should've known you were kidding from the start. Especially after you oh-so-eloquently pointed out how ridiculous it is."
"Yeah, Al! Lighten up!" I say jokingly while taking a last bite of toast. I get up. "Alright, I'm out of here. There's work to be done, and you know me, I just love my work!" They laugh and say their goodbyes and I head back to the common room to pick up Malfoy's assignments.
As I walk to the hospital wing, assignments in hand, I am lost in thought. Maybe I shouldn't take the assignments. I mean the kid is a prat. He should get one of his git friends to take his assignments to him.
But of course, I am the only person who has all the same classes. So really it's completely logical –
"Eckk!" I'm completely knocked out of my trance as I turn a corner and run smack into someone, Malfoy's homework flying across the hallway.
"I'm sorry!" I say without looking up. "I was just not paying attention and-" I see Hugo bend down to help me pick up the fallen papers.
"Well hello there, Rosey!" he says slyly.
I look away and give a slight "Hey…"
"Might I ask what you are doing with Scorpius Malfoy's partially completed homework?" He has a shrewd look on his face and I do not like it one bit.
"I was just…umm…well…any decent Head Girl would take the Head Boy his assignments while in the hospital wing!" I end rather defensively.
"Ohhhh, so you are just carrying out your Head Girl duties?" he asks, clearly thinking my answer was lame.
"Yes. You know me. I always like to go above and beyond the call of duty!" I make a nervous attempt at laughter.
Hugo eyes me suspiciously. "Well I should probably get going. I'm supposed to meet Mack in a few minutes. Room of Requirement…" he grins and hands me the papers he recovered from the floor.
"Alright. Well have fun with that, I guess!" I try to say cheerfully, but I can tell that my face is still red. I turn and start walking away, but Hugo calls back,
"Try not to prove Lily right, Rose. I really don't want to lose that bet I have with her…" He gives a huge coy grin and walks away.
What is with people?! Can't a girl take someone their assignments without being accused to liking them?!
I feel a mixture of embarrassment, anger, and stubbornness as I finish my walk to the hospital wing. Unfortunately my mood doesn't get any better because guess what cow is standing front and center when I walk through the double doors.
You guessed it! Eleanor Zabini. I guess the word 'cow' gave that one away.
"Weasley?" She looks shocked.
"Yeah. That is my name." I say degradingly.
She glares. "What are you doing here? Since dearest Scorpius is the only one here, I must assume he is the person you are here to see. Now I find this extremely odd, considering you are a low-class know-it-all with only losers for friends."
I'm about to respond when Malfoy, who I previously hadn't noticed, interjects. "Oh sod off, Zabini. I don't know why I have to ask you three times. I don't care to see your ugly face."
"So you're taking her side AGAIN?!" Zabini looks completely outraged.
"I am not taking anyone's side, you cow. I agree with your opinion of Weasley. If only you threw in 'hideous' it would have been a perfect assessment. However, this does not change the fact that I cannot and will not tolerate your vile company. Get out of here, Zabini, before I am forced to curse you."
Zabini looks tearful and starts to argue, but Malfoy says, "And take care to not come back."
She then turns on the spot and runs from the room, slamming the doors in her wake.
Malfoy then turns his gaze to me. "So what do you want, Weasley? I thought I had made it perfectly clear that talking to you is not something I enjoy. Unless you are as dumb as Zabini, who seemingly can't get the idea that I can't stand her through her head."
"Shut up, Malfoy. You and I both know that I am not even remotely close to the same level of intelligence as Zabini, who is on the level of doorknobs, bricks, and various other inanimate objects. I'm here to give you your assignments. Unless you wish for me to leave, in which case I will gladly oblige."
He seems to think this over and finally says, "Fine, Weasley. I'll take my assignments."
I hand him his things and turn to leave.
"Hey, Weasley," he says, and I turn around to face him. "I don't normally do this, so you should probably feel extremely privileged." He pauses and I wait. I see that flash of emotion cross his features once more. "Thanks."
I get over the shock after a few quick seconds and say, "Yeah sure whatever. I mean any good Head Girl would've done the same, right?"
He doesn't respond and I again turn to leave.
But his voice stops me once more.
"You know what sucks?" I look at him and his expression is unreadable. "You, Weasley, are by far the most tolerable person I've seen today and I can't even stand you."
For some reason I find this funny and start laughing. Malfoy looks at me questioningly and I say, "Sorry, Malfoy, but maybe you should stop attracting such bimbos."
To my surprise, he suddenly dawns a sly grin. "Jealous, Weasley?"
I roll my eyes. "You wish."
"Not in the least," he readily retorts.
I glare at him and he glares right back, but both of us lamely fail to conceal coy grins. I turn to go once more.
"See you tomorrow, Weasley," he says, and I can hear a taunting smile through his voice.
Without turning around I say, "Yeah, yeah. You're lucky I'm so nice." I shut the doors behind me and grin slightly as I walk back to the common room.
This one is a bit short... but next chapter will be a lengthy one! And there will be a new wrench thrown into what I like to call a blossoming relationship between Rose and Scorp ;)
Next chapter should be up soon... probably Sunday or Monday! Thanks to everyone for all the reviews/follows/faves! I love the support this is getting... And I'd love to hear what you all think! Let me know your thoughts... Do you like Scorp? Is Rose snarky enough? Are you just dying for Scorp to slip up and admit he clearly likes her? Can't wait to read your reviews, please :)
