Chapter 9:

Stupid dream. Stupid Malfoy. And stupid Miss Hazebrown with her stupid assignments that started it all.

Rose seriously had to make that dream stop popping up in her mind. She therefore decided to make things clear with Malfoy.

"Hey, partner. You're early tonight, did you want to see me that badly?"

Speak of the devil. And Merlin he was good at infuriating her with a mere sentence.

She scoffed at him, "I'm usually early when I have an appointment, even if it is a really annoying one."

"Still cold I see. I believe we're here for work, so doesn't our truce apply right now?"

"We're not working yet," she retorted.

"Let's go, then. I wouldn't want to waste your precious time. And mine either," he said, already heading towards the library. While starting to open the door, he added, "Mostly mine, in case you wondered."

She just sighed and followed him in. They went straight towards the alleys since they had to pick some books to study. Rose went in the L alley, but stopped when she noticed Malfoy was still right behind her.

"Why are you following me?" She asked him in a low voice.

"I just thought that, as partners, we should choose the books together."

She narrowed her eyes, "Since when are you that cooperative? Don't you dislike being around me?"

"You're the uncooperative one, not me," he pointed out, "And you still haven't figured it out by now?"

"Figured out what?" She said in a slightly shaky voice, remembering once again the dream she had.

"What I meant the other day," he answered simply.

"Oh, right, I'd forgotten about that," she lied. But it was good he'd brought it up himself, so she could finally clear things out and forget about it, "So what, were you saying you don't hate me that much?"

He looked surprised by her response for about two seconds, and then chuckled, "Is the thought of me not hating you at all that unrealistic to you?"

"Yes," she automatically answered.

He scratched his head and let out a dry laugh, "Of course it is."

She frowned at his reaction. Why did he seem so bitter about it?

She then mentally slapped herself, 'No, no, no. Do not start to deduce strange things out of this. You're just confused because of your dream. That's all.'

"Anyway, what I meant was that, since we called a truce and all, I decided to stand your presence, and was hoping you'd try to do the same. This assignment is already tiring enough as it is, so let's not waste our stamina at arguing and being on the defensive every time we see each other," he explained, oblivious of the inner fight she had been having a few seconds ago.

She suddenly felt relieved. He finally confirmed she was just overthinking it, and she now could finally let go of the weird thoughts that unpleasant dream had brought to her mind.

Now in a good mood, she smiled slightly, "Fine, I'll try harder to go against my instincts telling me to hex you every time you'd open your mouth. I guess it's just harder than I thought it would be."

He lift an eyebrow and said ironically, "How sweet of you."

She crossed her arms and said, "Well, that's the sweetest I can get around you."

"I'd like it if you could get rid of your coldness at least a little, but I guess I'll have to settle with this for now," he told her before starting to search for a book in the alley. He picked one of them, and showed it to her, "I think this one would be interesting, what do you think?"

Rose nodded, "It was the one I wanted to pick, actually."

He smirked, "I guess great minds really think alike."

She wanted to scoff at the idea of him being a great mind, but she had to admit he was far from being an idiot, and she did just promise to make an effort, so she restrained herself. Instead, she said, "I also have another one already in mind, I'll go take it."

"Fine, I'll go find a table where to sit then," he replied, surprisingly leaving her alone without arguing.

Maybe he really was trying to be nice to her. But she still couldn't help being wary of him. It was like her second nature, after all.

Once she had picked her book, she joined Scorpius. And this time, she sat right next to him.

He looked at her, a little surprised.

She opened the book, and was looking at it when she said, "If you can let aside our issues and work seriously, there's no reason I can't."

He chuckled, "Such a competitive mind. But I'm fine with it."

Genuine or not, Rose had to admit it was pleasant to work without fighting every two minutes. Maybe she'll really try to be less defensive from now on.

xxxxx

On Friday, after their Potions lesson which was the last class of the week, they all decided to go hang out outside since the weather was surprisingly good for the season. Only Albus wasn't there since he had a date with Suzy. Now that Rose was thinking about it, why did they even hang out together when Albus wasn't even there? He usually was the one suggesting to the Slytherins to come with them, but now they just came along as if it was an habit.

"Finally over. This class is the worst," Damon let out while letting himself drop on the grass.

"You say that only because you don't like your partner," Lena pointed out.

"Of course. She's just so sticky and annoying," he made a face.

"Next time, think about the consequences before playing a prank on someone," Rose told him. "Especially when it involves someone innocent. It's just fair for you to be punished."

"Hey, from what I see, your condition isn't as bad as mine," he argued.

"I have to admit he's right. I may have been a little too mean on this one," Scorpius said, but not without smiling, still amused by his poor friend's situation.

"Why don't you make her not like you anymore?" Lena suggested.

"You know that's impossible, I can't simply turn off my natural sexiness," he replied.

"And I thought Malfoy was arrogant," Peter scoffed.

"How long are you guys going to talk about that? It's done now anyway, so deal with it," Sicilia commented.

"She's right, when Rose and Scorpius aren't complaining or arguing, you're the one taking over. I feel like we're always talking about the same things," Lena said.

"I don't complain that much," Scorpius denied.

"I don't anymore, either," Rose added.

"Now that you mention it, it's true. You also argue less. Could it be that being partners improved your relationship?" Lena realized.

"See, I knew it," Damon exclaimed proudly.

"Yeah, we'll soon be inseparable. Right, partner?" Scorpius put his arm around Rose's shoulders while grinning.

She quickly moved it away, "Let's not go overboard, shall we, partner?"

"That's her way of showing affection," Scorpius explained to the others.

"Only with you then," Peter snorted. He didn't like how cocky that twat was acting, and how Rose wasn't even saying anything about it, probably because of the bet they'd made.

Scorpius tried not to show his irritation and quickly smirked, "Yep, that's how special I am."

"Yeah, you're the only one she hates. Very special, indeed," Peter retorted. He also simply hated the guy and loved to put him in his place, Rose involved or not.

"Peter, that's enough," Rose told him. "I can speak for myself. And please don't start to act like Albus and James, those two are already enough."

"Maybe you have to be friendly around him, but I don't."

Scorpius frowned at Peter's remark, "What do you mean she hasto be friendly with me?"

Peter and Rose realized he'd nearly revealed the bet they were having, but Rose didn't let it show and quickly explained, "Since we called a truce."

"Something I would never be able to do, by the way. You're really strong, Rose," Peter said.

"As if I'd want to call a truce with you, anyway," Scorpius snapped.

While those three were arguing, their three other friends were just watching the scene.

"Why does it seems like a love triangle scene?" Damon asked jokingly Sicilia.

"Perhaps because it is one?" Sicilia said with a hint of humour.

"Or at least one of them think this is," Lena added. After noticing the slightly surprised look the other two were giving her, she said, "What? You don't need to be his close friend to notice it. Heck, even Peter knows, but probably without being aware of knowing since that boy doesn't have a brain."

Sicilia had to give her that. Her childhood friend wasn't really subtle anymore.

"Anyway, let's stop this, it's becoming boring to watch," Damon declared. Scorpius and Peter were the ones arguing while Rose was now mostly listening.

Lena started to ask him how, but was interrupted by him saying loudly, "Lena, I need a huuug!" And then, he hugged her.

Scorpius and Peter stopped arguing and Rose switched her attention towards her best friend, all confused about the sudden exclamation.

Scorpius and Rose both frowned, not understanding what they missed, while Peter looked pissed.

"What's with you Slytherins, seriously?" He exclaimed, annoyed.

Damon smiled in victory before letting go of Lena. He turned around and smirked at Peter, "We were tired of watching you guys argue, so I thought about that as a diversion."

Peter was about to start another argument, but Albus and Suzy arrived.

"What's going on here?" Albus asked.

"The usual," Lena told him.

"Some arguing and the others trying to stop them?" Suzy asked knowingly. She was starting to be used to the dynamics of their group, and she had to admit it could be quite entertaining sometimes. She'd usually hang out only with students from her own house, so it was kind of refreshing to be around students from not one, but two other houses at the same time.

"Ding ding ding," Damon informed her she was right. "But it's over now so it's ok."

"I really can't leave you without surveillance more than a few minutes, can I?" Albus joked.

"Right, because you're such a wise man yourself," Rose rolled her eyes at him, smiling.

xxxxx

"So, why did you even get angry at Scorpius this afternoon?" Lena casually asked Peter.

They were sitting in front of the fireplace. Rose was doing her homework and Albus was talking to James.

"I didn't get angry, I just wanted to put him in his place," he simply replied.

"Well yes, but why? I mean he was just joking, and you know Rose can perfectly defend herself anyway."

He shrugged, "We have that bet going on, so she couldn't, and I couldn't just let Malfoy play with her like that."

"Why? Do you like Rose or something?" Lena laughed awkwardly.

Peter frowned, "How did you come to that conclusion?"

Of course, Rose was very important to him as they were friends since their first year, but he saw her more like a sister, while what he felt for Lena was completely different. But still, he couldn't help being annoyed when that jerk was too close to her, convinced he was up to something. And now that Albus was Malfoy's friend, he had to be the one with the protective mode on.

"I don't know. It seemed like you hated Scorpius being close to her, so..."

"I hated even more that prick hugging you, though," he mumbled, remembering how Stones had taken advantage of the situation back then.

"What did you say?" She asked him.

"Nothing," he lied. "Anyway, I can assure you I don't like Rose."

She then chuckled, "I know, I was just teasing you. She's way out of your league anyway."

"That is not true, I'll have you know I'm a very fine man," he argued.

She ruffled his hair, "Of course you are. You're just so easy to tease."

"Stop mocking me," he complained.

"Alright," she said between two laughs, "I'll stop."

Truth was, even if she never truly believed he liked Rose, the thought of this possibility in a tiny part of her mind had been bothering her since the afternoon. She was glad to have asked him about it, and that he wasn't really good at connecting the dots.

xxxxx

Our four Gryffindor friends were sitting at a table of the Three Broomsticks Inn, enjoying their butterbeers.

"I like that. Hanging out together, just the four of us," Peter said.

"You're saying that as if we didn't do it anymore," Lena remarked.

"We don't. Not just the four of us, I mean."

"We still do it all the time in our dormitory," Rose said.

"Well, yes. But it's not the same. When we're outside there's always someone else with us."

"About that..." Albus made a sorry face.

"What? Who's coming now?" Peter was already disappointed.

"Suzy's coming with her friend."

Peter felt relieved, "Oh, fine then. Suzy's ok, of course. And who's her friend?"

"Well..."

"Hey guys!" They heard Suzy call them.

"No wonder you kept quiet about it," Rose shook her head slightly at her cousin.

Peter and Lena became curious and turned around to see who was with her, and their eyes widened. "Petunia?" They both said.

"What is she doing here?" Lena whispered angrily to Albus.

"You could have at least told us beforehand," Peter added in the same manner.

It wasn't like they had a bad breakup – if you can even call that a breakup since they'd never been a in real relationship – but Peter hadn't talked to her since then, so it was kind of awkward. And Lena, well, she just couldn't help but dislike the girl.

"Sorry, we're a little late," Suzy apologized once they were close to their table, after having ordered their butterbeers. She went and sat next to Albus.

"Hello, everyone," Petunia greeted them quietly.

She gave off a whole different feeling that the last time they saw her there. She sounded less obnoxious and more shy than before. Probably because she felt a little awkward about the situation.

Albus and Rose smiled at her, "Hey."

Petunia smiled back at them before looking at the other side of the table, and by the look of their faces, she concluded, "I assume you didn't know I was coming?"

"Albus, why didn't you tell them?" Suzy slightly rebuked.

"I was about to tell them, but you arrived before I could," he said as a poor excuse.

"Well, maybe I should just go join Carolina and Tara for their shopping session," Petunia said.

"Of course not," Albus said, "They were just surprised, I'm the one at fault. But it's ok, right guys?"

Lena and Peter shook their head at the same time. Peter smiled, "Of course it's ok, sorry."

Petunia smiled and looked at Lena.

"Why woudn't I be ok with it?" Lena eventually said. As long as she doesn't seduce Peter again, that is.

Petunia grinned, "You're all so sweet." She immediately sat at the table, the only seat avaible being the one next to Peter. "I was afraid this was going to be awkward given our..." she cast a sideways look at Peter, "History. But I'm glad it's not."

"It's not like we fought or something," Peter told her.

"You're right. I was silly," she giggled.

Now they could recognize the girl they'd met a few months ago, but she was still more likeable than before.

At the sight of the two girls' full pints, the boys decided it was time to refill theirs, and therefore left the table for a few minutes.

Petunia started to look around, as if searching for someone, "Scorpius Malfoy and his friends aren't there?"

"No, why?" Lena frowned. What, was she trying to seduce a Slytherin now?

"Oh, because you seem to spend a lot of time together these days, that's all," Petunia smiled.

Ok, maybe she wasn't.

"We even spend too much time together," Rose automatically spat.

"Ah, right. Suzy told me you two still don't really get along."

"That's an understatement," Rose said.

"I don't understand. He's handsome, athletic, and smart. I bet a lot of girls are jealous of you being his partner right now. I'm clearly one of them," she raised her hand as a joke.

Or maybe she was? Lena couldn't follow that girl.

"That doesn't change the fact that he's a prick," Rose went on.

"Well, I never really talked to him so I can't tell," Petunia said. "But Suzy told me he was a pretty decent guy."

"That's because she's his friend's girlfriend," Rose joked.

"And you're his friend's cousin," Suzy chuckled. She then looked at Petunia, "I didn't know you were interested in Scorpius, by the way."

So Lena wasn't the only one confused about that girl's intentions.

"I'm not interested, just curious," Petunia said. "You know I'm curious by nature."

"More like addicted to gossips," Suzy joked.

Petunia laughed, "That's another way to put it, yes."

So, was she on a guy-hunt or not?

"Oh and Lena, you're really close to his best friend, Damon Stones, aren't you? He's a real hunk, too."

"We're friends, that's all, if that's what you want to know."

"And how could you stay friends with a guy like that? He's just so dreamy," Petunia squeeled.

'Because I like someone else, who happens to be your kind-of-ex-boyfriend, but I won't tell you that,' Lena thought. But what she said out loud was, "He's too much of a player."

"That's what you're telling yourself, but I'm sure you're just waiting for him to profess his love to you," Petunia smirked.

Ok, so, not on a guy-hunt, but clearly on a gossip-hunt. She'd probably make a perfect reporter for the Witch Weekly later.

"We're back," Albus announced as he and Peter were taking their sit back. "So, what were you talking about?"

"About the fact that Lena secretly loves Damon, but doesn't want to admit it because she's afraid of him breaking her heart," Petunia summarized.

"What?" Peter exclaimed loudly.

"I. Am. Not in love with Damon. She's saying nonsense," Lena tried to explain.

"See, totally in denial," Petunia went on.

"Petunia, stop it," Suzy gently rebuked her friend, then looked at the guys, "Don't mind her, she just reads far too much romantic novels."

"Thank you," Lena said, happy someone was trying to help her.

"Of course. As if someone as smart as Lena would fall for that womanizer," Peter laughed awkwardly.

Lena slightly frowned at him. Was he being jealous right now? Or merely protective just like he'd been towards Rose a few days ago?

That was frustrating, why was figuring out someone else's feelings so much more complicated when it came to the one you liked? That was just unfair.

xxxxx

"This was a good afternoon," Rose said to her three best friends as they were on their way back to Hogwarts. Suzy and Petunia had already joined their girl friends from Ravenclaw.

"I agree. We should do that more often," Peter said, spinning around.

Lena gave him a look, "So you can get wasted more often?"

He stopped, "I'm not wasted." He then stumbled, "Woh, I'm dizzy."

His friends laughed.

"Why were you spinning around in the first place anyway?" Albus mocked.

He seemed to really think, then frowned, "I don't know."

Lena rolled her eyes, chuckling, "Of course you don't, you brainless boy."

They continued to walk.

"But still, I was so surprised when I saw Petunia," Peter said. "You could've at least warned us, Albus."

"I already apologized for that. Plus, it went well in the end."

"I have to admit she's a little more likeable now," Rose said.

"When she's not hunting for gossips, that is," Lena added.

Rose chuckled, "Right."

xxxxx

Rose was on her way to the library when she felt someone tap her left shoulder. She turned to see who it was, but no one was there.

"Talk about a smart girl," he mocked her once she went past her from her right.

She rolled her eyes, "I wouldn't have thought someone would still do that childish prank at our age."

Scorpius smirked, "And yet, you fell for that childish prank."

She rolled her eyes and started to walk again, Scorpius going along with her.

That was kind of bizarre, walking next to him like that.

"So, how was your afternoon in Hogsmeade?" He asked her.

She frowned at his attempt to be friendly, but still answered, "Great. Probably because you weren't there."

"Oh, so you missed me," he concluded.

"Didn't you hear me? I said the very contrary."

"You thought about me when you were there, so you missed me, even if you won't admit it."

His ability to twist her words was really infuriating.

She sighed, "Let's just walk to the library silently, ok?"

"You're changing subjects, meaning I'm right."

"No, I'm just too tired to bother aguing with you about such trivial things," she retorted.

He held his hands up, "Fine, I'll stop."

Well, that was easy.

"And how was your afternoon?" Rose asked after a few seconds. Walking silently next Scorpius Malfoy was even more bizarre than talking to Scorpius Malfoy while walking.

Scorpius raised his eyebrows, surprised. But he didn't make a remark about it.

"A little boring. Probably because you weren't there," he replied in the same manner as she did before.

She didn't let her surprise show and smirked instead, "Oh, so you missed me."

"Of course," he told her without blinking.

"What?" Even if she should have seen that one coming, she hadn't.

"I strangely got used to our loud afternoons when we're all together. To be honest, it felt a little weird not to have anyone raise their voice around me for a whole day," he said.

Oh, so that was it. He missed the whole gang. Wait. Why did she feel a little disappointed?

Before she could go further in her thoughts or even reply to him, she realized they were in front of the library, and that he was already opening the door. She followed him inside, and they quickly started working. A whole hour passed without even Rose noticing, which was a first for that to happen during her working session with Malfoy.