Chapter 10

Scorpius

I slowly lifted myself from the cobbled ground, a dull throb aching in my knuckles, camouflaged by the hurt of my heart. I'd never felt like this, like a chunk of me had withered. My hands trembled as I bowed my head, heartbeat pulsing in my ears. How could I return to the Common room? After what I'd done? My palm seemed to sting, vibrating with shame.

I clenched my fists, tightly and with no mercy. They bled lightly, just tears trickling down my palm. I unfurled them, growling with a sudden rage. I turned in a circle, finding shattered pieces of me all around.

I couldn't face her… James. My face contoured into a fear plain and simple. He's going kill me. Of course she'd tell him what happened. Why? Oh why God? Why had I gotten myself into this…?

I stopped, sighing to a racing heart that flew along with a tap dance. I trailed over to one of the courtyards, night falling thickly with a chilly breeze of autumn. Stars glittered overhead, seeming to mock me with their coldness. Some said that stars were beautiful and so close to our hearts, yet stars are so far away… How can they connect their love to such cold subjects? Connect their love to pieces of rock in space, nothing breathtaking. I had always been interested in space, it's colorful nebulas and galaxies and black holes. Yet stars never grew to my interest.

I slipped down one of the looming oaks, shifting uneasily as the events replayed in my mind. Rose jabbing her finger against my breaking chest. Her screaming at me. My palm as it whipped across her soft cheek. I trembled, not because of the cold had seeped into my bones, but because of the hollowness that could warm me because of her. I gripped the grass, tearing it out. A lonely tear slipped down my cheeks, and I quickly wiped it away, conscious of a growing hatred that blacked my empty soul. I suddenly remembered her smell weeks ago as she rose next to me to grab the pumpkin juice. She'd smelled of honey and books, mingling with a soft lavender scent rom her fiery hair. The smell teased my nostrils, leaving my longing for another word with her… my father's face and words slipping behind my lids. I banged my head against the oak's bark, drifting into an uneasy sleep tainted with nightmares.

I woke suddenly, jerked awake away by a hand one my shoulder. I gasped, by body stiffening as I looked up into the face.

"Dear, what on Earth are you doing her late at night?" The Headmistress was looming over him, looking down from atop her glasses.

"Oh, I-I must've fallen asleep. I'm sorry." I slowly rose, by aching body stiff with sleep hunched at a tree.

The Headmistress frowned, searching my face.

"Are you alright? Mr. … Malfoy? I presume?"

I nodded uncomfortably.

"Are you alright? You seem troubled by something? Nightmares?"

I tensed, releasing a long breath.

"My boy, come on. Let give you as sleeping potion. You need all your energy for your classes."

I glanced up, searching the sky for the moon. I found it, thin and hanging at the middle of the sky. I hesitated, and then slowly nodded. The Headmistress nodded softly a well, turning on her heel to stride over to the hospital wing.

"Also, Mr. Malfoy, you have dirt smudged against your cheek." She called over her shoulder.

I frowned, rubbing it with two fingers. I looked down, watching them under the torchlight. They were coated in dirt form the time I'd pulled at the grass, shredding the dirt with it.

I groaned, jogging up to catch up with the Headmistress with stiff and uncomfortable legs, haunted by nightmares of a sobbing Rose.

Rose

My sleep was disturbed with nightmares, the past night's events replaying. My head was thick and cloudy as I woke up, my face crisp with died tears. Moss lay next to my outstretched arm, and next to my chest. Oh my baby, she'd always keep me company. I had her even before Hogwarts started, yet she wasn't a normal cat.

I rose, my body ridged and creaky with sleep in an curled ball. I moaned, slipping on some clothes and stalking out of the dorm. A hole gaped in my heart, something missing.

"You alright?" A voice seeped into ears. I turned around, facing James. I sighed, clenching my fists.

"You don't look very well, have you been crying?"

"I-I, no." I wiped my hand against my crusty face, placing Moss on an armchair. I stumbled into his open arms, slamming my face into his chest.

"Wow, little Rose, are you aright? Come on, what's wrong?"

He peeled me off of him, a worry burning the backs of his eyes.

"Rose!" He gripped my shoulders, crouching down to my level.

"Little Rose?" He searched my face, frowning as he cupped my cheek.

"Rose, tell me."

"I-I." I clenched on the backs of my teeth. I shook my head, my throat contracting painfully.

"Wait, what's with your cheek? Rose! Did someone touch you!?" James cried, lifting me up with him. I shook, my eyes clenched with bruning tears.

"Rose! Bloody Hell! Just shake you head, whatever, please."

I pursed my lips, trembling. The gaping hole had expanded, catching my focus. I nodded, slowly.

"Oh my God. Rose, who did this? Please, tell me. I'm going to rip their head off."

"No." I croaked, slapping my hand on his chest weakly.

James slipped away form my hand, pacing the empty Common Room.

"Where's Scorpius? Where was he when it happened?"

A little flutter of sadness expanded in my chest, restricting my breath. James must have noticed as he stopped in his tracks.

"Rose." He whispered, striding to me. "Rose, was it him?" His eyes were darting around my face, wide and searching.

I stared at him, breath quick and shallow. Tears brimmed my eyes, and James noticed, bristling.

"Mother of God. It was him. Holy motherfucker. Rose! Why didn't you tell me?!" James' eyes were fiery and cold. His lip quivered and his face paled.

I shook, tears rolling down my face. I slammed into James, sobbing into his chest. The tears rolled away with feelings, slapping into James' waiting heart.

A handful of moments passed, and I moved away form him, empty and open, open for everyone to see. In the eyes and in the tears caked against my skin, and James' wet robe.

"I-I…" I stopped, wiping a quivering hand to my face. I started again, my eyes sharpening and lips stopping. "He was an ass, and I-I gave him so many chances. I stood up to him, and… and-" I sighed, all the feelings washed out of me, leaving me blank and disappointed.

"I though he'd be good. I though that history wouldn't repeat itself, w-with hating and annoying each other. Yet, that time, I don't think my parents and your parents felt the same disappointment." I spoke quietly, watching my hand emptily.

"Little Rose." James murmured, cocking his head to the side with a pout and a frown.

"I-just don't want you to be all pitiful and what not, please Jamey." I shook my head, clenching my fists. My throat constricted, cutting me off.

"Rose, I- Rose, I'm going to kill the bloody arse, and you will not stop me." Jamey shook a hand at my face, his eyes sharp with the wind of a killer.

"Jamey-Hey, James. Don't. Go. Near. Him." I hissed, anger starting to replace my disappointment and grief.

"I…" James started, stopping. He shook his head, coming close for an embrace. He clenched against me, pushing into me.

"Ow, Jamey." I winced, my voice muffled by his soft and warm chest.

"Oh, sorry little Rose." He smiled, but his eyes never felt them. "I-I'm disappointed, and angry, of course, but seeing you like this, I'm not going to show my rage. I'm going to keep it in, and then go punch a tree." He dropped his smile, shaking his head. My head swam, and a choke rose in my throat.

"James.." I shook my head, but before I could continue, he stormed out of the room, striding up the stairs to their dorms. He slammed the door shut, leaving me cringing and empty.

A.N Well, that was a sort of filler chapter, eh? XD hehe Sorry about that, but next chapter, wow… I'll just say something happens… evil laugh

Please read and review!

-Demi