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Harry Potter characters & things © JK Rowling

Everything else © Me and My Imagination

Chapter Eight: Rose Weasley

YEAR ONE
I realize you all desperately want to know, but really, I am not in love with Scorpius Malfoy.

"Albus, why would you say that?"

"I didn't know he'd take it that way!"

"Nonetheless, you hurt Alice's feelings!"

"She fancies James! James!"

"Who cares if she fancies him or not?"

"I do!"

"Why?"

For a moment, Albus didn't say anything. And there could be several reasons why, but I'd like to name a few:

James is the older brother and gets everything.

James, particularly, is very popular with girls.

James caught the attention of Alice.

"She's supposed to be my friend," he said stubbornly.

"So if Scorpius decided he liked me?"

"Well, that's different."

"No, it's not! You only feel that way because you like her!"

Albus made an exasperated sound, not seeming to have a reply. He looked bitterly in James' direction. "Maybe I just don't want her to fancy him. Scorpius is a good guy, I know, but James would not—"

"You know good and well that James isn't like that. Maybe a little, but he wouldn't hurt Alice, even if there was a possibility of them being together."

Albus sighed.

"You should talk to her."

"She hates me."

"So? Talk to her."

"Fine," he sighed, and we made our way to the common room.

We waited forever in the common room for them to come back. Slowly, all the Gryffindors went to bed.

"She's got to be somewhere."

"So does Scorpius…" I mutter.

"You think they're together right now?"

"Well I can't imagine what they'd be doing." I crossed my arms and huffed. Why wasn't Scorpius here? He knows better than to believe what Albus said.

"I'm going to sit out in the hall and wait. In case I see her."

"Alright, and if you see Scorp, I'm in here."

"Right."

And at that moment I realized that for the fleeting moment where I imagined Alice and Scorpius alone together, I was jealous. I was jealous of my two best friends. Oh, fantastic. I should be worried about if Alice is okay but instead I'm imagining Alice and Scorpius liking each other and… and…

I don't like it.

Friendship surely is difficult to manage with Scorpius. If he would stop being so bloody charming and all, that is. I wondered how long they'll take and whether they'd be all night.

So I waited. I started to read a book but eventually tucked it away. I tried to focus on homework but I couldn't. Eventually, after another hour, I felt incredibly sleepy. On the back of the piece of parchment of which I was going to write my Potions essay, I wrote Scorpius a note.

Malfoy, you're in loads of trouble. You were gone for hours and I was waiting for you.

I wanted to tell you that it's okay to like Albus's family. Albus's family may like you back.

Okay, perhaps Albus's family likes you a lot, but that's besides the matter.

The point is it's okay.

Well, yeah.

Well that sounds incredibly stupid. I crumpled it up.

Malfoy,

Well I think I like you so I give you permission to like me. Don't worry about Albus.

Wow Rose, I thought. I crumpled it up.

Scorpius,

I don't know why, but I think I may like you. You're still an arrogant toe-rag, got it? Don't let it get to your head. Sometimes I wonder if you really like me back or if it's too weird for you. I mean, it'd be okay if it was too weird for you but I'd like to know sometimes. So maybe you should just tell me. Not in person, that'd be way too embarrassing. Okay, probably in person.

Sorry for being so awkward. We're just good friends and I don't want to ruin that. I hope you understand. Maybe if it's too awkward for you, you can pretend to never have found this note. That'd probably be easier.

Don't worry about what Albus said. You like who you like, you got that?

Love, Rosie.

Too much, too much. I heard voices outside, and frantically crumpled the paper up. Without thinking too much, I scrambled to write a new note. I realized I didn't have anywhere to put the notes I had crumpled up. I heard the portrait open, and quickly stuffed them between the arm of the couch and the cushion. Shutting my eyes and laying down, I pretended I was asleep.

There was some shuffling to the stairs and I thought Oh good, perhaps he won't even find my note. No such luck. The shuffling stopped, and suddenly it came in my direction. After a few moments, I heard a laugh. Yep, definitely Scorpius. I hoped I wasn't blushing.

Just when I thought he was leaving, I felt a blanket drape over me and heard him sit right in front of the couch. I opened my eyes and saw the back of his head, his body covered in the blanket as well. For what seemed like hours I laid there, listening to voices outside and then finally, finally going to sleep.

-o-o-o-o-o-

"Rosie," someone was shaking my shoulder. I blinked a few times to adjust to the light.

"Scorpius?" I muttered.

"No," the voice laughed. "It's James."

My eyes opened and I saw him there, smiling at me.

"Oh, hi, James."

"You fell asleep in the common room?"

"Um, yes."

"Why did you think I was Scorpius?"

"He… he was here too."

"He fell asleep in the common room too?"

"Um… yes?"

"Is something going on between you two?"

"No," I said quickly, sitting up. I felt dizzy.

"Well, you're late for class. Don't mind me, I was just skipping, but I didn't think you want to miss Transfiguration. That's what first years have right now, isn't it?"

Oh, shoot. It was Monday. I was late.

Without answering James, I shot up and ran up to the girls' dorms. I changed into a new pair of robes and ran back downstairs. He was already gone. When I ran out into the hall, I saw Scorpius coming my way.

"Was grabbing breakfast from the kitchen," he said, out of breath. He handed me a plate of food. I would have to eat it on the way there. "I'll meet up with you; I have to grab my notes from my trunk." I started to turn around as I had forgotten mine as well. "Don't worry about it, he said. "We can share."

"Thanks," I sighed in relief, and pecked him on the cheek. I booked it. I had three floors to go.

I was reprimanded for being late, but not as much as Scorpius. He showed up twenty minutes later, out of breath and flushed. When he sat next to me, he looked flushed."

"Detention for both of you," McGonagall decided dismissively, and we both groaned, but didn't dare argue.

The whole class period he was silent. "What's wrong?" I whispered to him.

"Huh? Oh, nothing." He shook his head and smiled at me.

Yeah, something was wrong.

And I figured it out.

People probably stared at me like I was crazy. I had raised my hand to perform an example of the correct way to transfigure a teaspoon to a teacup. I got up in front of the class, raised my wand, and looked at Scorpius.

Then my wand clattered to the ground, and my mouth dropped open.

"Ms. Weasley? Are you alright?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"Actually," I squeaked, "I really do feel feverish."

"Well then," she said. "Go on and see Madam Pomfrey. But don't think this gets you out of detention! Tonight at 11, if you will."

"Yes, ma'am," I whispered.

Not even looking at Scorpius as I exited, I ran once I got out of the classroom. If he knew, then he knew.

When I reached the common room, I groaned when I saw the blanket from last night neatly folded on the fireplace. I could imagine Scorpius coming in here, tidying up…

I stuck my hand in-between the arm and the cushion, and found nothing.

Well, that happened.

How do you think Scorpius will respond?

As for the poll, I don't know why I keep picking polls I can't answer. I love Scorpius/Rose and Alice/Albus equally.

Don't think though, that that determines who each person will end UP with. Just a warning.

Poll:

Remus/Tonks

OR

Teddy/Victoire

Really I have to stop giving these hard polls. They're mostly for you all. But you aren't answering.