Chapter 7: Post-Hogsmeade (A.K.A. The After-Halloween Feast)

The day after Halloween, I was walking to the kitchens with Scorpius and Albus. Scorpius and I were laughing over some joke that Al had just told. The thing is that the joke itself wasn't really that funny. In fact, it was practically the stupidest joke Scorpius and I had ever heard. Hence the reason why we started laughing. What made as laugh as hard as we were now was when. Al got this smug look because he thought he was funny. He can be so oblivious sometimes. It was quite cute actually.

It almost felt like the old days again. Like our forth year all over again. The days before Scorpius and Albus became obsessed with having a girl to snog every week. Before I dated King or started to really talk with Ian. Before I developed my ridiculously huge crush on Scorpius. The days where we could just talk for hours non-stop and not one of us would ever be bored. Every day was a party when you hung out with the three of us that year. We had so much fun and cause a lot of trouble along the way.

Those days were easier, better. The three of us were so close that we could practically finish each others' sentences. These days I feel like Al, Scorpius, and I are slowly separating. Like our lives are pushing us in different directions. It's actually quite frustrating, because if nothing else goes right ever again in my life, my only wish is for the three of us to be best friends forever. I seem to be screwing that over lately, what with me first growing a crush on Scorpius which makes me sound like a complete idiot any time when I was around him, and secondly I became friends and then later started sating their arch nemesis, Ian Thomas. I really truly believe I like to make my life harder.

Anyways, though Halloween is a great holiday, the day after Halloween was sort of a special holiday for the three of us. This is the one night a year that we three don't eat in the Great Hall. It started in our third year when I broke my wrist and three ribs on Halloween. Basically how that happened involved my incapable skills on a broomstick and a very high fall. So, I had missed the Halloween Feast. I was really upset because the Halloween Feat has the best food of the entire year, and it really is one big party. I was so upset that Scorpius and Albus planned a "Mini After-Halloween Feast" in the kitchens with the house elves the next night. They even convinced the house elves to make the foods that are usually reserved for only feasts.

The next year Albus was dared to eat a really old Puking Pastille. Of course, Al being as dumb as he is, he did. Anyways, he missed the Halloween Feast that night because he was throwing up until way early the next morning, so Scorpius and I planned the same exact thing. By that time we knew it was going to become a tradition. So, that's where we were heading right now. Scorpius and Albus were still mad at me for going out with Ian, but the three of us set aside our differences for the night. I am pretty sure that this is the only night out of the entire year that they would willingly do that.

"Don't quit your day job, Al," I said, when I finally stopped laughing hard enough to speak.

"What day job?" he replied with a puzzled look on his face.

Scorpius and I just looked at each other again and burst into laughter one more time. Albus look even more confused than before.

"How was that funny? It didn't even make any sense," Al then said.

"It ok, Al. Rose and I are just weird," Scorpius said in between gasps.

"You got that right. I swear you guys speak your own language half time. Nobody ever understands what you guys are saying," Al then grumbled.

Scorpius just cocked his eyebrow, and I started to laugh again.

At this point we made it to the kitchens. When we walked in the elves were busy messing around a small circular table with three place settings. I gasped when I saw it, and Scorpius and Albus stopped walking. There were candles floating above the table, just like in the Great Hall. There was a cobweb print on the tablecloth and what looked like real bats were flying around the candles.

"Wow," I said to the house elves. "You guys really have outdone yourselves this year. It never looks this amazing."

Tibby came running up to the three of us and replied, "Thank you, Ms. Weasley. Tibby and the rest of the house elves have been working really hard."

"You really didn't have to do any of this," I replied, feeling bad. It looked like they put a lot of work into this. That meant that everything they should have been doing today will have to be done tomorrow along with the rest of the work they will have to do. "Seriously, we would have been fine with sitting on the stools and eating off the counter like we usually do."

"It's no problem," Tibby then said. "Tibby wanted to make it special this year. Next year there would be no more celebrations."

I shot a look towards Albus and Scorpius.

I guess I haven't really thought about it, but the three of us weren't going to be at Hogwarts next year. This was our last year. After this we are going to have to worry about getting jobs and finding homes and growing up.

"Thanks, Tibby," Albus then said. "You don't know how much this means to us. It was really sweet of you guys."

Tibby beamed as the three of us took our seats.

"Wow," Scorpius then said. "It's really weird thinking about how we aren't going to be coming back next year."

"I know. I'm going to have to play my best this year if I want to be picked up by a team," Al said.

It has always been Albus's dream to play for a professional Quidditch team. Though Uncle Harry always wanted his son to become an Auror, he has been really supportive. Aunt Ginny is the one who is really rooting for Albus. Every chance even the topic of Quidditch comes up, she talks about how splendid Albus is and gives him pointers whenever she gets the chance. She has even talked about him to some of the old Quidditch players that she knew from her Holyhead Harpies days to get word about her son around in the Quidditch world.

As if Albus needed any of that. He was a spectacular player without any of these extra helps. I would have been surprised if he hadn't been picked up by some team even without his parents being famous.

"Don't even talk about that. You totally know that every single team is going to want you after seeing you fly for like five minutes," Scorpius said. "I'm the one who is going to have to worry."

Scorpius' dream, unlike Al's, was to become an Auror. He originally wanted to play professional Quidditch with Al, but one Christmas vacation around fifth year Uncle Harry and my father came home from a very long mission. Both of them were exhausted so they went straight to bed. The next day, when Scorpius found their names in the paper being praised, he knew that's what he wanted to do. Though he claims he wants to be famous and kick butt at the same time, I know he really wants people to see that not all Malfoys are bad. That they can be on the good side too.

"The Auror program has gotten ridiculous since Harry has become the head. Especially since Ron and Hermione are also there. Between the three of them, they can think of about a billion things that can happen and have probably experienced over half of them," Scorpius then whined.

"You guys are such babies. You both know that you are going to be spectacular at whatever you both do. I, on the other hand, believe I am going to be the most brilliant Healer there ever was when I do become one," I replied.

Being a Healer has always been my dream. I never knew when or why I decided that was the job for me. It just kind of happened, and ever since I have first thought about it I never once doubted it.

"Wow," Al said. "That doesn't sound like your conceited or bragging or anything. In fact, I don't think there is a more modest person on this Earth."

Scorpius laughed as I said, "No, seriously guys. I am trying to be optimistic about the future."

"Since when have you been the optimist?" Scorpius then asked.

"Since right now," I replied. "We aren't coming back next year. That means we have to be actual grown-ups for the first time in our lives. If I'm not going in optimistically, I don't think I will be able to make it."

"As Uncle George would say it, 'ear, 'ear!" Albus said, raising his glass. Scorpius and I laughed.

"So, since this is a special occasion, I bought us something special yesterday at Hogsmeade," Scorpius then said pulling out a bottle of firewhiskey.

"That's not what I think it is, right? Because we could get in so much trouble for having that on school grounds," I replied, frowning slightly.

"Oh, come on Rose! It's just a couple of drinks. It's not like we are underage or anything," Al then pleaded.

"And it's not like at every house party there is they don't have some sort of alcohol," Scorpius then said.

For a second a thought of a very drunken Zachary King with a very sober Adelaide Whitney flashed through my mind. I quickly pushed it away before I got too angry and looked back at the bottle that Scorpius had set on the table.

"Yeah, Rose. You need to loosen up and have some fun!" Al continued.

"Yeah, just a couple of sips?" then said Scorpius.

"What's the worst that could happen?"

What was the worst that could happen? I get a little drunk tonight, sleep it off, and go to classes tomorrow as if nothing had happened, and it could be interesting. It was something new I had never tried, and I didn't want to seem boring or mom-like. That would just be embarrassing.

Wow.

I was actually trying to justify breaking the rules.

I poured Scorpius, Albus, and me three cupfuls, raised mine, and said before downing the cups contents, "Bottom's up."

The liquid burned down my throat as I swallowed, and I instantly felt a little better. Scorpius and Al were just staring at me with a look of shock. I wiped my mouth on my sleeve before saying, "Your guys' turn."

Soon enough, the three of us drank a good amount of firewhiskey each. I was laughing at something that probably wouldn't seem funny a couple of hours from now, but of course seemed like that absolutely funniest thing ever at the time. The other two were looking at me as if I had jumped completely off the edge. Apparently they didn't become completely drunk after two sips like me.

"I think I am going upstairs," Al said, smirking at me. "It's kinda getting late. Make sure my cousins gets to bed alright. We wouldn't want her hurting herself."

Scorpius shot Al a look, and he returned it with an even bigger smirk.

With that, Al left the kitchens.

This is about when I realized I haven't thought even once that night how amazing Scorpius is. It really was true though. He really was amazing. Especially now. His hair looked so soft and his mouth looked so kissable.

That night the alcohol must have affected me more than I thought. It probably killed most of my brain cells, because it was at that exact moment I had this brilliant thought. The next thing that ran through my mind was: What if I tried seducing Scorpius? It could be very interesting and maybe he will realize that he is madly in love with me in the process.

Probably not, but it was still a nice thought.

I reached out to touch Scorpius' very soft hair.

"Um, Rose?" Scorpius said, as I was playing with his hair.

"Your hair is so perfect. How is it that perfect?" I heard myself say.

"Well, thank you I guess."

"No seriously Scorpius," I then said. "You are like the most perfect guy I have ever met. You are funny and nice and smart, not to mention probably the handsomest bloke I have practically ever met."

Did I really just say that?

I couldn't stop myself. I started to giggle.

He looked a bit uncomfortable. I guess hearing this stuff from a girl who you would never date in a million years does that to you. I didn't really care. I was having too much fun at the moment.

"Er, thanks."

I shifted in my seat so that I was closer to him. "You know, Scorpius, Emma is so pretty. I couldn't even imagine being that pretty."

"You are very beautiful."

I lit up when he said that. "Do you really think so?" I asked with a bit too much excitement.

"Of course. Who wouldn't?" he replied.

I felt the smile grow on my face.

I stood up from my chair, and I plopped myself down on Scorpius' lap. He looked slightly confused, but he didn't try any attempt to move me. I continued playing with his soft, blonde hair.

"Scorpius, Emma is so lucky to have you," I then said.

He didn't reply. He just looked at me very seriously with those silver-grey eyes of his, so I wrapped both my arms around his neck and continued.

"I mean, any girl would be lucky to have you. You are literally the most amazing guy I have ever met."

"Rose I need to say something," he tried saying before I cut him off.

"No you don't."

I didn't want him ruining my mojo. I would never have enough guts to do this ever again, so I was going to finish this now or never.

"Rose, I-" he tried again. I put one of my fingers to his lips.

I then leaned in a little bit closer and whispered as seductively as I could manage, "Don't say anything."

Our faces were merely inches apart. Then I couldn't resist. I pulled away my finger from his mouth and quickly pressed my lips against his.

I was surprised he didn't pull away the second I did it. At first the kiss was very chaste and closemouthed. It was a kiss that didn't really mean anything. It was merely sweet.

Then we both got really into it. The kiss deepened as I felt his mouth open against mine. I responded by doing the same. His tongue languidly explored my mouth, making me want more. My hands were still at his neck pulling him closer as one his reached up to tangle in my hair and the other hand slid up my outer thigh and over the back of my robes to rest on the small of my back. I embarrassedly let out a low moan, but this seemed to please him because he responded by pulling me closer.

I pulled away first, gasping from lack of oxygen. It was the best snog I had ever had in my life, and I was upset that it ended.

I could tell that Scorpius was now avoiding my gaze, but I couldn't bring myself to care. It was way too worth it.

"Rose," he finally said, "I think it is time I get you to bed."

I nodded thinking how I all of a sudden was very tired. I wondered faintly what time it was, but didn't care enough to ask.

He carefully pulled me up off of him and let me lean on his shoulder as he guided my up to the Ravenclaw tower.

Unfortunately, we ran into Ian in the hallways. I felt a pang of guilt course through me as I saw him coming down the hallway. We have only been dating for a little more than a day, and I already cheated on him. And to make matters worse, I was dating him and I didn't even like him all that much. Well, not in the way he wanted me to. I was basically just using him to get over Scorpius. Or make him feel ridiculously jealous. I still didn't even really know.

What kind of sick person was I?

"Rose!" he said, concern dripping from his voice. "Is everything alright?"

I tried to tell him I was fine, but my tongue felt very heavy. Instead I heard Scorpius' voice say, "Yeah, she's fine. We just had a long night."

Ian frowned at him and said, "Oh, well then, I can take her to her dormitory from here."

"It's ok. I got her. What are you doing out so late anyways?" Scorpius said defensively. I could be just my imagination, but I thought I had heard a touch of jealousy also.

"That's really none of your business, Malfoy, and she's my girlfriend. I'll take her," Ian then said. It was the first time he has called me his girlfriend officially, and my first reaction was that I didn't like it. My guilt grew.

Scorpius squeezed me a bit tighter before releasing me. Ian than took me in his arms and I was all of a sudden overwhelmed by the smell of his cologne. There was a touch of something else that was sweeter, but I couldn't quite place it. All I know was that it was giving me a really big headache.

"Goodnight, Rose," I heard Scorpius say. "I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay?"

I nodded as Ian started to lead me down the hall. I close my eyes for a second and next thing I knew we were at the door to the Ravenclaw dormitories. Ian quickly answered the bird's question.

He pulled me inside the common room and whispered, "Goodnight, Rose." He planted a kiss on my forehead before sending me off to my dormitory. He couldn't come up with me, because boys were still not allowed in the girls' dormitory.

Somehow I made it into bed all in one piece. Dreams of Scorpius and Ian swam through my head, but I instantly forgot them the next morning.