Thank you for the reviews! Please keep them coming! I'll definitely need to know what you think after this chapter. This is a quick update, but not a terribly short chapter. Enjoy!
Chapter 9: Blonde and Black Haired Babies
Rose smiled all the way back to Gryffindor Tower, and when she entered the portrait hole to the sound of raucous laughter and shouts, she laughed right before she let out a small scream when she felt strong arms lift her up from behind.
"I was wondering when you would be back, baby girl" Albus said when he dropped her and let her turn around to face him. As they walked further into the common room, Rose could tell that Albus was already significantly impaired from whatever liquid was mixed in with the bowl of pumpkin juice sitting on a table in the middle of the room. She smiled broadly as he spoke. "Saying good night to Scorpius?" he said. He used his best impression of a female voice when he said 'Scorpius.'
"As a matter of fact, I was," Rose said as she poured herself a glass of the spruced up pumpkin juice. She took a large gulp and made a face at the taste before she spoke again. "He said we're a real couple," she said, looking down into her cup.
"What?" Albus shouted. The noise in the room was at such a high volume, however, that no one seemed to notice. Albus yanked the cup out of Rose's hand and set both of their cups down before he grabbed Rose into a sweeping bear hug. Rose laughed and screamed as Albus spun them around. "Oh, Rosie!" Albus said after he put her down and rested his hands on her shoulders. "I'm so happy for you."
"Thanks, Al," Rose said with a broad smile. "I'm so happy for myself." She felt practically giddy.
"So, the deal's off?" he asked.
Rose laughed. "Well, I think so…" Rose made a face of fake confusion. "We didn't really talk about it…" Albus laughed and hugged her again. "Well!" Rose continued. "How are things with you and Poppy?"
Albus sighed contentedly. "Better than ever," he said.
"Where is she?" Rose said, glancing around the room.
"Little witches' room," Albus said with a nod.
Rose laughed and talked with Albus a little bit more before she joined him in the middle of the room where several Gryffindors were dancing and having a good time. It went on like that for a while, with everyone enjoying the atmosphere of the Gryffindor win. During this whole time, however, Rose could not stop thinking about Scorpius. She thought about his mouth on hers and the burning sensation it left behind. She thought about what he had said and how they were now a real couple. She also thought of how all this started with a stupid letter from her mother that had told her to stay away from Scorpius. Little did her mother know that that very letter had pushed Rose into the arms of the one man her mother hoped she would stay away from. Rose could not help but smile at the thought.
Currently, Rose was dancing with a fifth year boy who was good friends with her brother, and she could feel the effects of the spiked pumpkin juice. After the song ended, she stumbled over to the punch bowl and ran into her cousin, James.
"Rose!" he shouted. James was also in a very celebratory spirit and was far more impaired than Rose. "Come here, honey," James slurred. He pulled Rose toward him and she smiled sloppily at him as he began to speak. "I am so sorry, Rose… For… EVERYTHING."
"James—"
"No, Rose, let me finish. I gotta say this," he said, holding up a hand. "I should have never tried to butt into your life, and you know," he said as he wagged a finger in her face. "I think you and Scorpius make a very handsome couple… You're like my sister, Rose, and all I want for my brothers and sisters is for them to be safe and happy. I just wanted to protect you, but in the process, I made you hate me." James pouted.
"James, you listen to me." Now it was Rose's turn to wag her finger. "I could never hate you in a million years. You're the only big brother I've got, and I love you so much it's not even funny. I know you were just looking out for me, and that just makes me love you even more." Rose paused only briefly. "I don't expect you to be best mates with Scorpius, just… I don't know, just don't hate him anymore. Please?"
"Rose." James cupped Rose's face in his hands. "I will try my hardest to stop hating Malfoy. That is my promise to you." He flashed her a goofy grin right before he planted a wet kiss on her cheek. Rose smiled and pulled James into a tight hug. "Where is Malfoy, by the way?" James asked when they broke apart.
"Well, I didn't think he should come!" Rose squealed.
"Oh, why not?" When Rose gave James an odd look, he laughed loudly. "No, tell him to come on over! I'm sure people would love to see the man who helped us win the cup!" James laughed again and patted Rose on the shoulder before he turned around and walked across the room.
Rose smiled as she stood by the pumpkin juice table. Then she made up her mind.
Scorpius was sitting in the Slytherin common room on a short sofa in a stupor. Like he had predicted, several Slytherins had gotten some very strong beverages in order to curb the feelings of dread after their loss. Scorpius had had quite a bit to drink and was now sitting lazily on the couch, staring into the empty fireplace. Around him, people were yelling and dancing and toasting to the downfall of Gryffindor. Scorpius smiled to himself as he stared blankly and was happy to hear that Gryffindor was still the enemy instead of him.
As he sat on the sofa, he began to think of Rose, and the goofy smile that was already on his face spread a bit further. He thought of how she had lost control at his doing, and how he had lost similar control at her doing in the library just two days later. He thought of her hair and her milky skin and the way she trembled any time he got near her. He thought of how when she was away from him, all he did was think about her and when he would be able to see her next. It almost frightened him how much he wanted her. He had never wanted anyone so badly in his life, and he did not know how he should feel about that. Sometimes he embraced it, other times he was confused by it, and still other times it terrified him.
Scorpius continued to think only good and happy thoughts about Rose when Vermillia VanOffen, a fellow Slytherin seventh year girl came and sat down next to him. She was almost as impaired as Scorpius, but not quite.
"Hey, Scorp," she said when she sat down.
"Vermillia!" Scorpius jumped a little bit when she sat down. He had been so lost in his own thoughts and the drinks that he had had that when she sat down she gave him quite a scare. "What's going on?"
Vermillia laughed and flashed a pretty smile. She had long, blonde, wavy hair, and vibrant green eyes. She was slightly pudgy, but she was still incredibly attractive and charming. She was wearing slim, form fitting, muggle jeans, and a stylish baggy top to go with them. When she sat down next to Scorpius, she left about a foot of distance between them. Scorpius and Vermillia had been good friends since before first year. Her parents were friends of the family, and Vermillia and Scorpius had played together as children.
Leaning back against the couch and mirroring Scorpius's position, Vermillia said, "I just wanted to ask you about you and Rose Weasley," she said. "Is that for real?"
Scorpius smiled and looked at the fireplace. "So real, V," Scorpius said. "I mean, it's like nothing I've ever felt before. She's just awesome and beautiful and smart, and… she knows how to use her mouth."
"Scorpius!" Vermillia said with a shocked look on her face, although she laughed a moment later. Scorpius just shrugged and laughed, and he and Vermillia sat and chatted about him and Rose for a few more minutes. She asked when it had started and how serious it was, and she asked what her parents and his parents would think about it. When he asked what she thought about it, Vermillia merely shrugged.
"I don't really care," she said. "I thought it was weird at first, and I'll admit I was a little annoyed because, of course, I always imagined you and I getting married and ending up with lots of little blonde and black haired babies running around…" Scorpius knew that Vermillia was only kidding. Vermillia and he had tried out a relationship once, but they had both agreed that they were better as friends. Scorpius had also heard on very good authority that she had a thing for his housemate, Dorian. "But I'm cool with it." She paused before she said, "I know a lot of people aren't though… People have been talking and whispering and they think it isn't right."
"Well, you're the only one I care about," Scorpius said playfully as he reached over and played with a strand of her hair. "You know, your hair reminds me a lot of Rose's," Scorpius slurred. "Hers is shorter and redder," he said as he continued to look at her hair as he twirled it in his hand, "But the waves and the shine…" Vermillia giggled as Scorpius played with her hair.
"Scorpius, stop," she said, pushing his hand away.
"Oh, you don't want Dorian to see?" Scorpius said. He glanced over his shoulder and noticed that Dorian was staring over at them. When Scorpius caught his eyes, Dorian looked away quickly.
"Shh! Scorpius, how do you know about that?" Vermillia whispered.
Scorpius laughed. "You both aren't exactly coy," he said. "What's taking you so long anyway? I know he likes you."
"I don't know," Vermillia shrugged, and looked away from Scorpius. She folded her arms in front of herself and looked suddenly very put out.
"Well, I have an idea," Scorpius said. He leaned up from the sofa a bit too quickly and felt severely dizzy for a moment. Vermillia laughed at the look on his face and waited for him to regain his composure. "What do you say we just leave this party for a few minutes? We'll walk outside the house for a little while and make people think we're up to no good, and when we come back, Dorian will be extremely jealous."
Vermillia laughed. "Do you think it will work?"
"I know guys, and I know Dorian," Scorpius said with a fake solemn nod. "I know it will work."
At that, Scorpius stood up and attempted to get his balance right before he reached out a hand for Vermillia. She took his hand with a smile and stood up, allowing Scorpius to guide her out of the common room. They could each feel the stares on them as they walked out, and each of them smiled triumphantly. When they got outside, Scorpius dropped Vermillia's hand and they began to walk through the dungeons.
"It's kind of scary down here at night," Vermillia said as they walked along. They continued to walk along for quite some time. They spent that time catching up on things they had not talked about in a while. They talked about their families. Vermillia had a younger brother, Vinson, who was in his third year at Hogwarts. Scorpius was an only child—both of his parents were as well, so he had no cousins—and he talked about how jealous he was of Rose and her big family. Vermillia suggested that one day Scorpius might be a part of that family, but Scorpius quickly changed the subject.
After a while, Scorpius and Vermillia made their way back toward Slytherin House. Scorpius was still very inebriated, as was Vermillia—though slightly less so—and he said he needed to get back and lay down. As they approached Slytherin House, Vermillia talked about Dorian.
"I don't know why he won't ask me to be his girlfriend," she sighed. "We fooled around once, and I'm worried that he's not going to bother now that he's had me already." Her drunken emotions started to shine through and her voice started to rise slightly. "And I know I'm not the prettiest—"
"I think you're beautiful," Scorpius interrupted.
"You do?" Vermillia stopped and turned to face Scorpius. They were just a few feet away from the entrance to
Slytherin House. Scorpius faced her.
"Of course I do," he said seriously. "Dorian is an idiot," Scorpius said as he reached up and began to play with her hair again. "He has no idea how lucky he would be to have someone like you, and if he can't see it, then he doesn't deserve you."
Scorpius brought a hand to the side of Vermillia's face and she looked up at him with tears in her eyes. When one tear fell, Scorpius wiped it away with his thumb. Their faces were only inches from each other's, and when Vermillia leaned in, Scorpius responded. He brought his lips to hers and kissed her lightly. Vermillia opened her mouth and responded desperately and eagerly to his kiss. He brought both hands to the side of her face and kissed her deeply.
He did not know why he did it. Maybe he just wanted to make Vermillia feel better—feel beautiful. Maybe he was just too impaired to know what exactly he was doing. Maybe—somewhere deep down—it was his defense mechanism against his fear about his relationship with Rose and how much he wanted her. Or maybe it was all of this. Either way, Scorpius backed Vermillia against the wall behind her and continued to kiss her, until—
"Scorpius?"
Scorpius pulled away from Vermillia quickly and sloppily and wiped a bit of saliva that had dripped onto his chin when he recognized that voice. He turned to face Rose, who was standing a little ways away from the entrance to Slytherin House looking hurt and confused and angry. Scorpius walked towards Rose.
"Rose, I—"
When he got close enough to her and reached out his hand to touch her, she slapped it away.
"Don't touch me," she hissed. Rose saw Vermillia try to go into Slytherin House undetected, but Rose called out, "No, don't go, Vermillia. I'm leaving. You guys can continue what you started."
"Rose, don't—"
"Don't what, Scorpius?" Rose said angrily, her voice getting progressively louder with each word. "Don't what, exactly?"
"Don't do this… you don't want to do this," Scorpius said quietly. He tried to reach out for her again, but she pushed him away as hard as she could.
"How dare you!" Rose screamed. "You know what I didn't want, Scorpius? I didn't want to come down here and see you in a lip-lock with her! I didn't want to put my heart and my relationships with my family on the line for you, only to get my heart stomped on!" Rose stepped forward so that she and Scorpius were only a foot from each other. "I—" Rose's voice broke and tears formed in her eyes. "I came down here for you," she said as her voice dropped back to its regular volume. "James apologized, and I felt bad for saying you couldn't come to the party. I felt bad thinking about how you were down here all alone wallowing in self-pity over your loss today, but little did I know that you had all the comfort you needed!" Rose gestured toward Vermillia, who was standing behind Scorpius, looking down at her feet, red faced. Rose wiped away her tears angrily before she continued. "I can't believe I did this." She turned away and shook her head. Scorpius reached out and put a hand on her arm, and Rose turned around quickly and knocked it away. "I said don't touch me!" she raised her voice again. "You don't get to touch me—"
"I'm sorry, Rose—"
"Yeah? I'm sorry, too. I'm sorry that I made that arrangement with you in the first place, I'm sorry that you turned out just how everyone warned me you would, I'm sorry I came down here, and I'm sorry I fell for you…" At those last words, Rose could no longer control her emotions. Her voice broke, and the tears were streaming from her eyes as her voice came out in choked sobs. "This," she moved her hand back and forth to point from herself to Scorpius, "is over. Everything… is over."
All Scorpius could do was watch her go. As he stood there next to Vermillia and watched as Rose walked away from him, his body began to shake uncontrollably. He turned and leaned his back on the wall he had had Vermillia against only a few minutes ago, and he sank to the floor. Vermillia sat next to him and tried to comfort him as he wept. Eventually, he told her that she should go, and when she did, Scorpius realized how completely and utterly alone he truly was.
