Chapter ten
Rose slowly got up and turned to Malfoy, who was still sitting in his chair, looking bewildered. This she immediately took as a sure sign that he didn't want to patrol with her, so in precaution, she braced herself to not let him get to her in any way.
"Shall we go then, so we get this over with?"
His eyes darted to her and he got up, mumbling that they probably should. Her tone had made his hopes sink even lower than they were before, why did this happen to him, he could not understand.
As they walked down the corridor, they were both quiet, not wanting to disturb the other.
Why does it have to be so hard, should I make small talk or something, Rose thought to herself while stealing a glance at the boy who walked beside her. He had his gaze locked at something straight ahead, but turned to her slightly as she cleared her throat.
"Hrm… so are you nervous?" At first all she got was confusion, so she elaborated, "The game, are you nervous?"
"… Not really, we'll have to see how it goes; the other team is pretty good."
Happy that the silence was over, Rose started to relax, which Scorpius noted. Maybe it wasn't going to be that bad after all.
"Your team is good, or at least that is what I've heard."
Scorpius couldn't help but smile at this, he knew that she knew more than she was letting on, but he could play along.
"Well, that could be an overstatement, but we can put up a fair game, or as fair as it can be." Rose smiled too at this, but not at what he said, she really liked that smile of his. They were now at the bottom of the stairs, when a mischievous grin spread in Scorpius's face.
"Why don't we go up there, instead of just guarding down here, we will still now if someone comes up."
"Sure… why not." Rose had never seen this side of him before, and it was a positive one. As they got up the stairs Rose looked up at the sky and Scorpius was surprised when she suddenly grasped his arm and pointed up at the stars.
"Look! There you are." Staring at her like she was mad, what was she talking about, he was standing right next to her. His confusion made her laugh, then she said in a soft voice, "It's Scorpius." He too looked up and as she pointed out the constellation he said in a low voice.
"Yes… there I am." She had let go of him now, and he felt a longing for her to touch him again, hold her in his arms, but he drove those thoughts away and instead sat down on one of the chairs. A moment later she joined him, still looking up at the stars.
Silence spread, but this time it was a comfortable silence, while both of them watched the skies above.
Rose didn't know for how long they had been sitting there, but suddenly she heard steps outside the room, and then a voice.
"Why did she let them go together, who knows what he will do?!" Realisation daunted over her, and she quickly turned to Scorpius who had anger written over his face, as he too recognized that it was Paul who was making his way up the stairs. Rose didn't want to talk with Paul, she thought that they had had enough of that for one day, and by Scorpius reaction, she felt like it was for the best if he stayed out of Paul's way too.
Scorpius felt a sudden tug on his robe and saw Rose's face only a couple of inches away from his own.
"Come on." She hissed and as if he was in a trance he followed her when she dragged him to a closet in the back. Opening the door swiftly and pushing him inside was not easy to do when it had to be quiet, and she barely managed to close the door behind them before Paul barged into the now empty classroom.
The closet didn't have much space, so they stood there pressed to each other. Scorpius had at first thought that the girl in front of him had lost her mind, why wouldn't she let him meet Paul, sure maybe it would be more physical than last time they talked, but Paul had it coming. All these thought however disappeared from his mind when he found himself in a tiny space and Rose against his chest. He could smell the faint scent of roses from her hair and he tried not to think about how close she was to him.
Rose was surprised that Scorpius didn't put up more of a fight about the whole thing, but as they stood there, listening to Paul cursing, she could feel how he started to relax. She thought it was weird, she hadn't expected this at the beginning of the year, but she couldn't deny that it was nice, hearing him breathing soothed her and soon she had almost forgot about the now very frustrated head boy outside. But that came to an abrupt halt as he by the sound of it had kicked one of the chairs flying and hitting a wall. This made Rose unwillingly jump and she was surprised when Scorpius arms quickly came around her, even he got a shocked expression by his movement, but he didn't take his arms away, since McLaggen was still in the room, even if he was about to leave.
"Fine, they must have left, well that is bloody great! Wait till McGonagall hears about this, he won't have a free weekend till the end of next damn year! Leaving when you have prefect duty…"
The persons in the closet slowly let out their breaths, Rose noticed how Scorpius had clenched his jaw and he had quickly let go of her. Disappointed by this she opened the door and got out, seeing as she had thought a chair lay on the floor by the wall.
"Maybe we should go." She said in a soft voice, not wanting to aggravate Scorpius more, he didn't say anything, just started to walk. Falling into he's determined pace Rose silently walked beside him, she couldn't understand why he got this upset, thinking he acted like this after the comment about McGonagall.
"You know, she won't give you detention, especially if I tell her that we were both there, and doing what we were supposed to. Sort of anyway." By this she thought that she could see a faint hint of a smile, but then it turned into a grim expression.
"It isn't about that, I don't care about Hogsmeade, I don't care if I so got detention so that I would have to stay here over Christmas. It's just the way he acts. Thinking he owns everything." She took in what it was he was saying, but couldn't quite figure it all out.
"Do you want to stay here for Christmas, what about your family?"
By this he let out a laugh with no happiness, keeping his eyes straight ahead to not meet her gaze.
"I would rather live here permanently than spend more time than needed at home. Hearing my grandfather's stories about what it was like before Voldemort's fall, and how thing's would be better if he had the power. My dad clinging to every word, then all of them telling me that I should act like a pure blood is supposed to act." Rose didn't know how to respond to this, she had always thought that family was something you needed, people who loved you no matter what you did. But for Scorpius it was different, he seemed to resent them, and she felt sorry for him. Her big family meant a lot to her, even if they sometime teased her about things, they could still read her like an open book, if something was wrong they would know right away just by looking at her.
Scorpius noted her slightly saddened face, and with a small reassuring smile he said to her in a softer voice.
"You know, it's not that bad staying here. It is Hogwarts, and it is nice here at Christmas, and much calmer than it is during school."
"Yes, but still. Don't you want to celebrate with those close to you?"
"I thought I told you, I don't have any." They had now reached the place were they had to go their separate ways, and Rose thought she saw a mixture of emotions in Scorpius usually expressionless eyes, there was relief, sorrow and something else, she didn't know what it was, but she felt a slight tingle in her stomach as she said good night and walked up the stairs.
Sighing deeply Scorpius started to walk down to the dungeons, he could feel himself being pulled towards the girl he just left, but things became more complicated all the time. And the fact that he told her things that he had never, ever told anyone else. It was like he had lost his sense for right and wrong, thinking about what had happen inside the closet when he had flung his arms around her. At the time it felt like it was natural thing to do, but afterwards he wasn't so sure about it. She was perfect, and what was he. Maybe there was some sort of truth in what McLaggen said about him. But it was also said girl that had defended him from himself, when he had had doubts the last time.
As he lay on his bed, fully dressed he remembered that he had a game the following day, he fell asleep, not bothering about changing his clothes.
When he woke up it was early, but since most of the girls that was after him seemed to care very much about their appearances he could have his breakfast in peace. So he sneaked out from the dormitory, carefully not to wake the other boys.
The great hall was nearly empty when he got there, and for once there were none who bothered him. He ate and then he got up to leave for the quiddith pitch. It was only when he came to the doors as someone addressed him, and he felt a bolt of joy when he recognized Rose's voice.
"Hi, I… err… just wanted to say good luck. So good… luck!" Her cheeks started to turn red, but he smiled at her, making them an even deeper shade.
"Thank you… so I'll see you around." With this they parted and Scorpius felt like he was walking on clouds the whole way to the chancing rooms, they were both unaware of Christine Finnegan who had just come down the stairs and she didn't look too happy about the exchange that she had just witnessed. An evil look spread across her usually pretty face as she went into the Great Hall after Rose, who she ignored as she passed by.
"So Rosie-Roo, what are you up to today?" Hugo practically threw himself down beside her and attacked the food in front of him. She wrinkled her nose in disgust over he brother's eating habits before she answered.
"Well I am ahead of my homework, so I thought that maybe I could do something else but study for a change."
"And whot cod that… be?" He said at the same time as he chewed and swallowed.
"I don't know; maybe watch the quidditch game, perhaps."
This got Hugo's attention since it was rare occasions when Rose suggested that she would go to a game, but he was happy, maybe his sister was coming around to his way of thinking.
"Then you can come with me and Al, watch those Slytherin lose. It would be fun! Al is already down there, getting us proper seats."
"Sure, I come. Let me just finish eating this, since I don't inhale food."
"Hahaha, very funny, but come on now, Rosie!"
The whole way down to the pitch Rose heard her brother talk about all the player's that were going to play, the weather and how this was going to affect the out coming, etc.
When they got there Hugo spotted Al and dragged her down to one of the front rows, were they took a seat next to their now confused cousin, who wasn't suspecting Rose to come. But he bought her rather lame explanation and then turned to Hugo to continue to talk about the game.
After a while the teams came out and the crowed started to cheer. The captain's shook hands, both glaring at each other as Professor Wood told them to get on their brooms. Now Rose felt an urge that she hadn't felt before when she had watched a game, she discreetly cheered when Malfoy scored or did something good, but to not let the two boys beside her suspicious, she tried to cheer extra when the other team did something good too. At first Hugo and Albus just stared at her like she had gone mad, but then they realised that they were there to watch quidditch and that they would do.
Scorpius had felt a bust of energy like he always did when he got on a broom, and even in his high speed he could see her sitting there with her relatives shouting. He smiled as he saw her expression when he had fooled Ravenclaw's keeper and then scored. Her beaming face warmed him up inside and made him want more.
It was a tough game, and even if Ravenclaw caught the snitch, Slytherin won. Scorpius was filled with happiness as he stepped onto the ground, but he didn't get the greeting he expected. Just as he hit the ground a person, a girl, almost knocked him over as she flung her arms around him and kissed him passionately. In the corner of his eye he saw another girl swiftly disappear among the crowed that had gathered to celebrate, he pushed the clinging girl away and saw that it was the Gryffindor girl, who used to follow him, but he didn't have time to say anything, he had to get to Rose. Pushing his way through all the people was hard since they all wanted to congratulate him, it took longer than he thought, and she would be long gone before he got to the castle, but he had to find her.
When he finally had broke free he ran to the castle and entered, not sure of where he should go. Then it struck him, it was Rose, and she loved the library, which was where he could find her. Rushing up the stairs with noting else in mind than finding her, he got into the library. Only to be met by the sight of Rose kissing Paul.
He didn't even know how quick she must have been, or how lucky Paul must have been. The happiness was now gone, and it was replaced by anger and jealousy.
Slowly he walked out, thinking to himself that two could play this game.
A/N: Well this was the most I've written in a chapter, they seem to get more in each one. I would like to know what you think about it so there is only on thing to do, review ; )