DISCLAIMER: nothing is mine... only the laptop

Chapter 10

Al

The bell rings.

I make my way out of the room, glowering all the while in Zabini's direction. I march ferociously through the corridors. I can still feel my blood boiling in my veins. Every time I think of my little sister being with that… boy toy/man whore, I can't help but have the urge to hit something or better yet, a certain someone.

I grit my teeth in extreme infuriation.

My sister's a very pretty young lady. I'm not just saying that because I'm her brother. Boys swarm around her. She's surrounded by admirers all the time. And she likes hanging out with them. James and I never complained nor intervened when it comes to Lily's personal life since the moment she hit puberty.

But this time is different.

Of all the blokes in Hogwarts, why Zabini? Even Malfoy is more acceptable and a better choice than that Zabini. What do we know about that guy? Nothing! He's a weirdo. His only friend and the only one who's not wary of his presence is Malfoy. He never goes out with Malfoy and us to pubs, clubs or any places that consist of a crowd. I once asked Malfoy about this and he said that Zabini hates going to crowded places. Aside from that, everything about Zabini is a complete mystery. Well, not really. There are the rumors, of course. They are:

1. He lost his virginity at the age of 12

2. He lost it to his father's mistress

3. The said mistress was 32 years old

4. Since then, he only dated older women

5. He never showed any interest towards a Hogwarts student except for Malfoy

6. Because of number 5, for a short while in 4th year, people thought he's gay and that he and Malfoy were enjoying a forbidden affair

7. The youngest he had a fling with was a 25 year old newly wed woman

8. Since then, he seemed to have a preference for married women

9. Not just any married women but Muggle married women

Yeah, I listed them all down and showed it to Lily last night. But Lily burned it. She said that those are just rumors and even if they are true, she doesn't care because she loves him. Love?! What does she know about love? She's only fourteen! She only had one boyfriend. Their relationship lasted for 5 months, 1 week and 3 days (James and I had a bet on how long they will last). And I definitely think that having only one previous boyfriend for five months is not exactly enough experience for her.

I enter the half-empty classroom and immediately spots Rosie sitting in our usual table. I stride over to her, dumping my stuff on the desk with force. Rosie says nothing. She already knows that I'm in a very foul mood.

"Hey," she mutters, eyeing the open door anxiously.

I wonder if I should tell her about Malfoy. Oh, well…

"Malfoy asked about you in Muggle Studies," I mumble tiredly. Who knows being angry can be tiring?

"He did?" pipes Rosie frantically, "What did he say? What exactly did he say?"

Dang, I knew I should have kept my mouth shut.

"Not much," I sigh, "He just asked where you were. It seemed that he didn't know that you're not taking Muggle Studies."

"Oh," she looks crestfallen but becomes agitated again, "What did you say?"

I stare at her, frowning a little. I'm trying to recall what I said. Oh, yeah!

"I told him you're not in that class and never were,"

"After that?" Rosie eggs on for more details.

"Well… we insulted each other for a while. You know, the usual."

She sighs forlornly. "Why is it that he didn't know I'm not in that class?"

I ignore her question and watch as Louis comes in. He takes the seat on the other side of Rosie.

"What are you doing here?" she asks him. She can't see me so I smirk at Louis behind her back.

"What? I'm taking Defence Against the Dark Arts, too," he responds a little defensively.

I grin. Louis is playing dumb, alright.

"Why are you with us?" Rosie asks again.

"Why not? You're my cousins!" he says in a hurt tone, "Can't I sit with you anymore?"

He's definitely playing dumb.

"Go sit with Annemarie," snaps Rosie, "Where is she, by the way?"

Louis casts me a pleading look. I shake my head.

"You have to tell her yourself," I mumble. Rosie whips her head in my direction.

"Tell me what?" she asks curiously, looking between Louis and me.

He opens and closes his mouth. He's probably trying to find the right words. But what's there to find? The words are simple enough as it is.

"Go on," I encourage him. He gulps.

"We… uh," stammers Louis. He clears his throat, "We… no, I-I broke up with her. Yesterday."

"What?" exclaims Rosie, "Why? What happened?"

Is it just me or is Rosie been asking a lot of questions these past few minutes?

"Look, Rosie," he says dolefully, "I don't want to discuss it yet, if you don't mind. It's still very new to me. I'm very upset right now."

Liar!

He catches me looking accusingly at him. He widens his eyes in fear and shakes his head fractionally, pleading for me to keep quiet. I look at him in disgust.

"You're lying to me," remarks Rosie.

Ha! Of course, nothing escapes Rosie. I think she got that from Grandma Molly.

"Are you going to tell me or do I have to force it out of you?"

"Okay, okay!" Louis gives in, "I'm not interested in her anymore."

Rosie gasps in dismay. "Louis Weasley! How could you? That's awful."

"What's so awful about that? It's a legitimate reason for a couple to break up."

"And what about Annemarie?" she points out angrily, "Does she feel the same way or was breaking up your decision alone?"

"What would you have me do, Rosie?" Louis returns just as angrily, "Stay with her knowing I don't feel the same way anymore?"

Rosie is about to open her mouth when Louis spots his salvation by the door.

"Scorpius is coming!"

At once, Rosie becomes a bundle of nerves. She's now fidgeting like there's no tomorrow, her face is burning and she keeps darting her eyes around the room – probably searching for anything to hide herself in.

Why do I have a bad feeling about this?

Scorpius

Finally.

She's right there – between Louis and Albus Potter. I can't see her face, though. Is she hiding her face underneath all that big, bushy red hair of hers? No matter.

I walk towards them with my usual smirk.

"Scorpius," Boris asks in bewilderment, "where are we going?"

I ignore him and take the table behind the cousins. Boris follows. Louis gapes, Potter glares and Rose Weasley remains motionless.

"Good morning, Potter. Louis," I pause. Deliberately lowering my voice, I continue, "Miss Weasley."

Five seconds.

Ten seconds.

Fifteen seconds.

Thirty seconds…

Dammit, what the hell's wrong with this girl?! She's ignoring me on purpose!

Louis is struggling to keep his laughter at bay. Potter is smirking in obvious delight. I scowl.

"Well," I say, sneering, "that's… let's see, eleven words now. Right, Miss Weasley?"

She stiffens.

"Malfoy," growls Potter in warning.

"You know, Miss Weasley," I carry on, ignoring Potter's deathly glare and Louis's seriously-starting-to-get-annoyed look, "for someone who was grumbling last Saturday night about my lack of awareness, you're good at pretending otherwise. I mean, that was – most regrettably – the first time I greeted you and then you, on the other hand, is the one ignoring me now."

"That's enough, Scorpius," Louis cautions.

"Wow!" I exclaim in mock celebratory tone, "That's fifty-eight words already, Weasley."

"What's your freaking problem, Malfoy?" Potter asks furiously, "Leave her alone!"

"What? I'm just giving her the undivided attention she's been craving for six years. Who am I to refuse such demand? And isn't she tired of stalking me since first year?"

We have been arguing loudly and some students in the room chuckle at my last statement.

Rose Weasley flinches. That seems to be the signal Potter's waiting for. He jumps to his feet and draws his wand.

"You –!"

"Are you fighting?" interrupts a soft husky voice from above us.

We glance up and saw our Defence Against the Dark Arts professor leaning casually over the banister and devouring a chocolate bar. His dark eyes assessing the view below him – that being me with my wand pointed at Potter's dorky face; Boris is in front of me, his arm holding me back; because of that, Potter's wand is directed at Boris's chest instead; and Louis has both his arms restraining his cousin.

We straighten up immediately and stow away our wands.

"No, sir," replies Louis in a cheerful voice, "We're not fighting. Everything's cool."

The professor didn't say anything at first. He just stares at us while eating his chocolate. His eyes are as unreadable as ever but I know that his genius mind sees through Louis's words. We resume our seats silently and watch as he descends the stairs, munching happily on his chocolate that he'll be eating throughout the entire period. Don't ask me why but that's just one of his many quirks.

I turn my eyes away from our eccentric professor in time to catch Rose Weasley peering at me. Our glances meet and fasten for a few seconds. This is, as far as I'm aware, the first time we look at each other.

Her eyes widen. It seems that she just realized that she's staring at me. She swivels on her seat with her face resembling a tomato.

I scowl. I don't get her. She claimed and declared in front of half the school her supposed love for me and yet she is still acting as though I have an incurable disease. I'm paying attention now, so why is it that she's not grabbing the opportunity? Why isn't she all flirty like a normal human being in love?

"That's too bad," Professor Lawliet mutters softly, crouching on top of his chair, "I thought I was about to witness history repeat itself. Potter versus Malfoy. A great duel, indeed."

I shake my head in incredulity. Only he would find the fight between me and his boss's son entertaining.

"Stand up," he orders in that same tone of voice.

The whole class scramble to their feet. A few of students are wondering why. I'm not. This professor is unpredictable.

"Because of the almost-fight, we're having an impromptu practical exam."

The class groan. Like I said, unpredictable. Professor Lawliet just stares unblinkingly at us. He takes out his wand and with a brandish; all the tables and chairs vanish into thin air.

"Pick a partner. One of you will hex the other while the other will deflect it. Do it non-verbally."

This time I join the groaning majority.

"But, sir!" a Hufflepuff complains, "You never taught us how to deflect non-verbally!"

"Yeah!" the class shouts. The students then start voicing their protests.

"It's going to be chaos!"

"I'll be slaughtered!"

"What if my beautiful honey-coloured hair turns into blue? Or purple?"

"Oh, my God! I'm going to die a virgin!"

Basically, my classmates are all being childish and hysterical. Rose Weasley's staring at me again. I turn to look at her but she instantly drops her gaze to the floor. My jaw clenches and I have lost my patience.

"Non-verbally?" I say loudly, "What a shame. Rose Weasley won't be able to hear my 'beautiful, captivating voice'."

The room falls silent.

Then my classmates start to laugh. Boris is looking fearful. Potter and Louis are death-glaring me. Rose Weasley's head is still bent but her posture emanates tension. Professor Lawliet is munching on his chocolate.

"I'm not getting the joke," he says, scratching his head.

Those who are laughing suddenly had their mouths shut as thought an invisible zipper zip them up. Only one person would do that. Sure enough, Professor Lawliet is holding his wand. He moves really fast!

"But," he continues. His voice is still as soft as ever but his eyes are harder than usual as he glares at us, "even if I find it funny, I don't think I'll be laughing like these bunches of idiots are. If you're done with this nonsense, I'd like it very much if you'll pair up now."

We immediately position ourselves around the room. Boris is my partner, of course. Potter is still glaring at me. Rose Weasley is whispering something to him. I smirk at her and she reddens profusely.

I know I'm being an ass.

"This is going to be fun," Professor Lawliet remarks seriously, biting off a big chunk of his chocolate.

hi! i apologize for the late update. it took me almost a month just to finish this chapter. hope you all like it. i had fun writing the list, lol! i wanted to make it as outrageous as possible. the scorpius-rose moment is quite (very) short, i know, but next chapter (i think) she'll snap out of her shell and be more like herself around scorpius. it might take long, though coz i'm distracted right now. i might write an anime fanfic. i can't get this concept out of my mind.

speaking of anime, the DADA professor is based on an anime character, lol! and so was the potions prof, lol!

thank you so much to those who reviewed! i'm so glad you like my story. if there are grammatical mistakes and stuff, sorry! i wasn't able to edit this.