"Two winter meads, please," said Alice holding up two fingers up to the wispy bar maid. She tugged off her hat, shaking the snow onto our already white-covered boots. "This'll warm us up at least." She says to me, while passing one of the steaming goblets that have appeared on the bar into my outstretched hand. She gestures with her hat to two small armchairs by a window. We meander through the mish-mash of tables and sit down. I throw my robes unceremoniously over the back of my chair before curling up with my drink in my lap. It smells like oranges, nutmeg, cinnamon, tart apples; reminding me that Christmas is just around the corner.
"So, what the hell has been happening with you this week?" asks Alice over the top of her drink, giving me a rather tender look. I wonder if I really do look in such a fragile state that it's warranted.
"Eugh, where do I even start?"
"Well considering I've heard all sorts of nonsense, most of which I would believe as much as a tea leaf reading, I consider it impertinent that as your friend and confidante I hear the truth. Mostly so I can start setting the record straight." She takes another sip and kicks her shoes off, pulling her feet up underneath her. I'm oddly reminded of our family cat.
"Even Trelawney wouldn't have foreseen such a terrible week," I sigh taking a sip myself, savouring the warmth of the liquid and greedily inhaling the fumes.
"Well, last time I saw you was at the Slytherin party. I had to feign to Albus that I was looking for you, now that seems rather pointless. Then the next thing I know James is screaming at Malfoy in the Great Hall. Given that I've witnessed these events with my own eyes," she points rather obviously at both her eyes in unison at this point, "I can only assume that I wasn't seeing things. After that, the truth trail runs dry and I'm left with hearsay and outlandish stories about you and Malfoy eloping together."
"I assure you the latter in all of that is ludicrous and an unfathomable suggestion," I say bitterly.
At this moment we're interrupted by a young wizard with long mousy hair and a winning smile, my stomach tightens at this toothy resemblance.
"Any food for you ladies today?" he pulls a quill from his back pocket along with a leaf of parchment, looking between us expectantly.
"I'll have the carrot cake and she'll have a slice of the bakewell with clotted cream," answered Alice before I could get a word out. I give her a grateful smile and just nod in confirmation to the young man. He scratches the order on the parchment while waving his wand that appeared to have been in his other back pocket in the general direction of the bar. I see a cake slice hover towards a tottering pile of carrot cake slices before looking back at Alice.
"I thought you could do with something sweet. It might cheer you up a little, and since the Hog's Head has been done up we might as well reap the benefits while we're still at Hogwarts." Alice mused before finishing off her large glass of mead. Much to my dismay.
Alice did have a point though. The Hog's Head had been done up a few years before we started at Hogwarts. They'd stripped it down to the bare bones of wooden beams and floorboards before giving it a good cleaning that old Aberforth had been neglecting. They'd then filled it with a cosy assortment of armchairs, squat stools and fabric covered chairs. It reminds me of the Divination classroom, but the only vapour filling the air, thankfully, is that of steaming drinks and smoking goblets. It had a lovely welcoming feel that was only dampened, most ordinary wizards believed by the unusual clientele. I'm rather glad there aren't any hags sat up at the bar today. It often makes it difficult to hear one another in conversation.
It's important to note that another reason most students don't come here, is because it is kind of a well-kept secret. It's almost thought of as a fable from the days of the Second War. It may also have something to do with the fact that Aberforth in his forgetful old age had provided no advertising said sprucing up of his pub. Albus and I stumbled upon it about a year ago while a conversation ran away from us about the state of the Quidditch League we ended up inside. On that particular visit I'm certain there was a vampire sat in the corner, but Albus was convinced he was just a pale chap with an unfortunate habit of staring at your neck. If anything I happen to find the alternative clientele bears most of the place's character.
"Here's your cakes ladies," says the young waiter as he brandishes a serviette for each of us.
"Can we have another two meads as well please?" I open my mouth to protest but am interrupted, "this is my treat," states Alice rather firmly.
"Of course. I'll add 'em to the bill." I forced a few mouthfuls of cake into my mouth to avoid having to speak for a few moments more. Sadly he brought our other drinks exceptionally fast and she rounded on me again.
"Right. Now we have more drinks you have no excuse. Talk to me, Rose." She folds her arms in front of her chest looking imploringly at me.
Where to even begin eh, Weasley? It really had been a long week. I wish I'd never even considered the idea that the whole school would have an opinion on my personal life. My assumed infallible prudence being apparently tarnished by Scorpius Malfoy was the most intriguing event in Hogwarts history since Teddy Lupin had proposed to Victoire Weasley at the Leaver's Ball a few years back. Everyone seemed to have an opinion on it.
I cannot stress enough just how many people, and how frequently I have had to tell those same people repeatedly that Malfoy did not deface my womanhood in a broom closet. I didn't realise how hurtful such false information could be when twisted and distorted to barely fit in the truth. Each individual family member alone I could consider as collateral damage to what, at the end of the day was just a few snogs in various places around the castle. They all had their input over the past few days along with altering degrees of interrogation on the topic. How pathetic it all sounds when the truth of my "dirty undies" is compared to the elaborately woven stories formed by Chinese whispers passed between House tables.
Naturally, things with Malfoy have gone from blissful to distant to near strangers once again in the space of a week. I caught him staring at me from the Slytherin table yesterday evening which made my stomach to do the tiniest of flips. Something I should try to avoid in future it would seem.
"So you've heard about the fiasco that is James Potter? You probably know what happened with that a lot more accurately than I do considering I was asleep in the library at the time. Perhaps you could enlighten me on that one first," I utter glumly.
"Well, I won't bullshit you. It was a scene. I'm aware I don't know Malfoy all that well, if at all, but somehow he managed to keep his cards close to his chest amongst all the drama evoked by James." Alice takes another sip of her drink before continuing, "Before I continue, I hope we're both agreed that your cousin is a pig, because I don't want to offend in any way in my re-hashing of the events."
"Please, go ahead. What he said to me, let alone Malfoy is grounds for comparing him to whatever creature that often wallows in mud you like." Alice grins.
"So…James comes storming into the hall around the start of dinner, which isn't all that unusual. He heads over to the Slytherin table where Malfoy is sat with his mate, Zabini I think, taps him on the shoulder. All this time I'm just watching curiously and then James starts yelling. Right in his face. The first few bits I couldn't really make out as there was still a lot of chatting in the hall at this point, but after a moment the whole hall was dead quiet. Not wanting to miss the drama; nosy buggers-"
"You just said you'd been watching." I point out, slightly amused.
"Yes well, I now have a vested interest in Malfoy because of you. Especially seeing as I hadn't seen him for the duration of the party so I assumed something good came out of it."
"I'll get to that later. Go on."
"James said something about how he 'couldn't believe you'd got with the son of a Death Eater' or something to that effect."
I let out a strangled groan at this point, putting my head in my hands. I've seen Malfoy's arms. And torso. There is no dark mark there. Maybe I should go tell James that this evening; see how he likes it.
"At this point, the handsome one stands up, quite a bit taller than James. He says something quietly like 'Potter, you don't know what you're talking about' to which James replies something about how he wasn't exactly denying it," Alice shrugs at this point, the story gaining momentum as she presses on. "All this time Zabini looks like he's been slapped across the face with a wet fish I might add, wish someone had a picture of that. Anyway!...then Malfoy asks James why he hasn't asked you about this and that he might get some actual truth in there somewhere. Then Malfoy just left. Walked right past him." I think about this for a second. This would explain what happened to me afterwards.
"Then he came and found me in the library."
"I figured as much," says Alice giving me what I can only assume she thinks is a sympathetic expression. It's coming off more like she's smelt something rotten.
"To which I got about the same spiel by the sounds of it; along with a bombardment of questions to which I just said he could mind his own business. And that he was ridiculously out of line making such wild allegations towards Malfoy like that which are completely unjustified."
"And how'd he take that?" asked Alice, barely hiding her grin.
"Phenomenally well. Even offered to buy me flowers in apology," I'm aware I sound awfully morose, so the sarcasm doesn't work quite so well. I come off sounding more like Professor Binns.
"Unsurprisingly, our whole brood have been giving me opinions on 'that Malfoy guy' all week. I'm bloody sick of it Ally." I rest my chin in one hand propping it up on the table.
"That's where I come in. You can vent at me and I'll keep buying drinks. Just so you know, I'm expecting something satin for Christmas; no biggie." I finally manage to return a smile. Alice somehow slowly breaking through my current grey outer shell, giving way to my usual cherry red persona.
"What about the rest of the week?" Alice probes, shuffling the last mouthful of carrot cake around her plate, "have you even seen Malfoy?"
"Well Albus patrolled with me like before all this kicked off. He didn't tell me exactly what Malfoy said when he asked if they could switch back, but Albus is much more understanding of Malfoy's standing in all of this. He said something last weekend about how he could understand why for Malfoy this could be a little overwhelming."
"I have to agree with Al on that one. I don't imagine he predicted the drama that was inevitable if you two hooked up."
"Neither did I. This was it though, right? My whole worry about this. Maybe I was naïve to think we could make something work. A Malfoy and a Weasley. It does sound a bit like a fucking fairytale now I think about it," I can't help it, I'm groaning with frustration again. This self-pity is worse than any sort of insecurities that dwell on my mind. I just feel pathetic. The sad thing is I'm acutely aware that the only thing I can do is wait for it to all blow over. Thank Merlin it's almost the Christmas holidays.
"Now stop that. This self pity crap," she waggles a finger at me before gesturing at my half eaten bakewell slice. "Are you going to finish that?"
"I'm a Weasley, what do you think?"
"Well eat faster. It being sat there in my eye line is making me want another slice of something. They had treacle tart in as well today. I knew I should have gone for that."
"I'm not stopping you."
"My purse is though. So, you haven't even really spoken to Malfoy this week? I thought you had potions together."
"Yeah," I say thinking back, "that was an … interesting affair."
I enter the freezing potions room with Albus as the whispers follow me to my usual desk near the far wall. There hum a constant irritation since word got out about Malfoy and I. I try to avoid the other students gaze and look vaguely towards the front of the classroom with my head held as high as my dignity will let it. Each pairs potion sits in front of the students that brewed it. The small fish-like splashes the gold liquid makes on the insides of the cauldron on my desk, dazzlingly bright in the dark potions room.
A few minutes pass before the door opens again and I see a flash of blond in my periphery. I struggle not to turn round as he pulls the seat out next to me. As usual I fail to control my body and turn my head towards him. His eyes are vacant too and he looks disgruntled. His toothy grin absent, dispelled and in its place in a thin line drawn across his mouth. I assume he's avoiding catching my eye, but that's going to be rather difficult seeing as we're going to have to assess the potion together, and quite possibly test it. He shifts uncomfortably in his seat as my gaze unmoving, rakes over his face. I'm trying to find any little source that he's actually noticed I'm sat right beside him. It was only a few days ago that he was kissing me wildly and ferociously as if his life depended on it. I certainly won't be forgetting that in a hurry. This silence is making me feel anxious and awkward.
I'm about to say something, but before I can I'm rudely interrupted by Slughorn entering the classroom and clapping his hands together over his belly.
"Well class, you've all work exceptionally hard I see. I had a sneaky look at all your potions this morning as I was distributing them and I must say there is some exceptional work here. You should all be pleased with yourselves." There is a murmur of gratitude towards the Professor before silence falls once again.
"Now, although the potions were all good I shall be rewarding only a select few. Those who aren't may expect a little extra work in the next few weeks leading up to Christmas," there is a collective groan from a few students in protest but Slughorn holds up his hand to silence them again.
"So today we'll be assessing the potions brewed by your peers. I will be awarding something from me and also a peer assessed award. I'll be bottling and reserving some of each potion for the last lesson of term; something I'm sure will come as a relief to most." He waddled behind his desk while drawing his wand from his tight waistband. The murmurs returned, only this time they were quite obviously speculative about the sort of reward Slughorn had in mind. What with a variety of expensive and complex potions present, I know I'm not the only one yearning for a little bottle of something for my own personal use.
"Rightyo! Well an unorthodox pair they might be, they certainly didn't disappoint on this project," I inhale a sharp breath and I can feel Malfoy tense beside me as Slughon's gaze rests on us. "A perfectly brewed Felix Felicis by Mr Malfoy and Miss Weasley; what a fine couple of potioneers you make!" I can hear some people sniggering at that last part and force my focus again to the dancing surface of the potion. "That'll be thirty points to both your houses, and the largest bar of Honeyduke's chocolate I could carry." He pulls two hefty bars from his top draw and places them on his desk beside a jar of frogspawn. The class provide a polite smattering of applause. I can feel their eyes darting between us. I'm certain my cheeks are crimson.
"Now to business. I'd like a brief summary of the appearance, viscosity and aroma of all potions that weren't tended by yourself and an assessment of the potions accuracy. As you've all clearly worked rather hard, they'll be no further work set today. You may start." At this I go straight for my bag to grab some parchment and quill; anything to avoid the gaze of a dozen or so judging eyes and those of pity from Albus. I'd like this done as quickly as possible if Malfoy isn't even going to look at me. Quite clearly the murmurs have gotten to him too.
In the corner of my eye I catch a glint of glass, turning my head sharply to see Malfoy stuffing something into the inside of his robes. It takes me a moment amongst the now bustling classroom to realise what he's just done. He finally captures my gaze, aware that I've just witnesses his misdeed. The blank expression he's assessing me with infuriates me and I can't help but whisper harshly under my breath.
"What do you think I'm going to do? Tell on you?" I ask this bitingly, upset at myself for my own unnecessarily harsh tone.
"Of course not." He drawls back, in a manner I wouldn't have considered Malfoy to possess until a short time ago.
"Look Scorpius-" I try, my voice hushed tentatively now, but I'm interrupted.
"No, Weasley. You don't have to say anything. You're cousin did a good job of dragging my name through the mud with exaggerated information which has somehow made me enemies of people I'd never once even spoken to." The silence that fills this moment between us is tense. Too tense.
"So that's it then?" I ask. I want to get right to it. If he's throwing in the damn towel like a coward then I'm not going to sit here and beg.
"Well yeah."
"Right." It's not intended as a question but my inflection would suggest otherwise. He locks eyes with me again, and this time I know that he's lying. His eyes are shining in the brightness of the cauldron beside us. Flickering over the very details of my face as if to memorise them. His mouth twitches slightly, making my chest tighten. His gaze drops to my lips and I see the familiar darkening of his eyes; a dead giveaway, and for one sweet moment I think he's going to change his mind. Say he doesn't give a bastarding bludger that the whole school has an opinion on him and me, together in some sort of amorous condition. Heart wrenchingly I see his face fall as he tears his eyes away and pushes away from the desk.
"I'll see you around ….Weasley." His voice low and hoarse, in an attempt to mask any hint of affection or wit he might have previously thrown my way. I watch him walk over to Zabini who it appears had been watching us closely. I manage to nod at him politely before making my way to an adjacent desk. An emptiness suddenly swelling inside my chest. I bite down hard on my tongue as I feel salt tears blur my vision. I take one shuddering breath, and begin scribbling on my parchment. Trying desperately to distract myself from the colossal disappointment engulfing me.
That thing that happened between Malfoy and myself, isn't something that happens regularly for me. I'd really clung to every grin and every graze we'd shared. And now I'm left musing over the intrusive nature of my cousin and the lengths exes go to for the satisfaction of destroying something, that from the inside appear a marvellous set of moments that felt like they were blossoming into a mutual affinity for one another.
"He took some Felix Felicis?"
"I'm pretty sure of it yeah." I say, after recollecting the incident of mine and Malfoy's interaction in potions earlier this week to Alice. Amongst our general conversation, we've consumed another two meads each and I can now feel a low hum in my ears as if the blood's rushing to my head. It's not an unpleasant feeling, I assure you. I feel rather warm and content even though the dialogue is still focused on the past weeks incidents. The mead is certainly a welcomed addition to our Hogsmeade visit.
"Bit risky isn't it?" asks Alice as she waves in thanks to the bar tender for the fourth order of meads he levitates over the empty tables to us. I merely shrug in reply.
"Kind of wish I'd had the same idea actually. I could do with some liquid luck at the moment."
At this moment Alice claps her hands together enthusiastically, generating a few disturbed looks from those stood behind the bar.
"I completely forgot!" she almost yells grabbing her goblet of mead and brandishing it at me sending some slopping over the sides. "How did James find out? And more importantly, how on earth is it that you've not received an angry letter from your dad? Not sure why I didn't start my line of questioning with that." She looked eagerly at me, awaiting my response.
"Those details sort of fall by the way side amongst all the juicy bits I guess," unable to not grin back at a clearly rather tipsy Alice. In some ways I love being of age already, in others I'm not so sure. The walk back up to the castle will at least be much more pleasant in the snow after the copious amounts of alcohol. I take an enthusiastic swig myself before continuing.
"Well I'm not even certain myself how James found out, but the gist I got was that Patricia actually told him herself. At some point on Sunday afternoon. After he confronted me, Albus, who to be honest, was an absolute babe about the situation-" at this turn of phrase Alice has to hide her giggles behind her hand, "- reiterated what I told him about it being none of his business. Apparently James went on a rant in the common room loud enough for everyone in the dormitories to hear and Albus had to stun him because he wouldn't calm down. I don't know what happened after that but Albus informed me in Herbology the following day that I at least had nothing to worry about with James anymore."
"So Albus, 'The Babe' did something to scare James into submission on his tirade about your personal life?"
"That's the far reaching extent of my knowledge."
"So 'The Babe'-"
"You can stop doing that now. It was merely a term of endearment at how much I owe him for shutting James the hell up."
"Yes but whoever thought of someone calling Albus 'Babe', what do you think he'd do if I said it to his face?"
"Would probably blink a few times in confusion and then carry on as if you hadn't said anything."
"Ok. So you think Albus bribed him or something?"
"He wouldn't tell me." I confess, feeling a little wounded Al hadn't told me what he'd done. It is probably warranted given I didn't tell him some rather big developments in my life.
"Well James does do a lot of….how should I put this? Questionable things? And somehow he doesn't get caught. It's frustrating more than anything."
"I'm pretty sure he's the reasons Neville's tentacula plant was DOA in our last lesson in fifth year. They're a super expensive commodity to buy as a shoot and he would definitely have gotten suspended for breaking into the greenhouses if he was proven as the culprit."
"Maybe. Well I'll have to buy Albus a drink next time I see him for being your Knight in Shining Armour on this one."
"I think you've bought enough drinks today Ally." I say as I finish off the last of my mead, almost dropping the goblet clumsily back onto the table.
After much cursing on Alice's behalf when I lay a few sickles on the counter as she's searching for her purse we make it out into the harsh cold. I wrap my scarf tighter around my neck and watch Alice do the same. It's gotten dark already, meaning we haven't got much time left until we're expected to be back up at the castle. The street lights cast dark shadows from the buildings, though their eyes remain twinkling warm and amber and inviting. Alice laced her arm through mine as I feel her stumble into me a bit.
"Careful Ally, we don't want everyone to know we've been boozing on a Saturday afternoon."
"Oh noooo…..Ms Prefect going all goodie goodie on me?" she slurs slightly at the end, and I'm grateful that somehow I'm holding it together reasonably well. The freezing flakes of snow that are landing on my cheeks are doing a rather good job of steadying my senses even though my boots are slipping slightly on the icy path. That or I've just gone over my limit on mead. We cross the street to Honeyduke's as Alice titters at her own joke.
"I don't think goodie goodies take a swim with another prefect in their bathroom do they?" For some reason I'd withheld this information from Alice up til now. Probably to gauge the best possible reaction. It worked. She spun on the spot so fast disentangling her arm with mine she pitched forwards towards the barrel of liquorice wands under the shop sign and I had to grab the back of her robes to stop her from falling face first into it. Her mouth was positively gaping as she fixed me with a look of awe.
"Rose Weasley," her voice filled with reproach, "why on earth are you only just telling me this juicy sweet nugget of secrecy now?" she leant on the barrel to support herself. I screw my face up.
"Please don't use that phrase ever again."
"What? Juicy, sweet nugget? I will if you forgo telling me such things this late in the day again!" her reprimand would have been better placed had she not been swaying slightly.
"Sorry, I guess after it all sort of blew up out of proportions it didn't seem so important. What with me getting this horribly accurate sense he's not going to look in my direction again unless it's accidental." Alice waved her hand irritably.
"That doesn't mean I don't want to hear about this adventure you had with this handsome chappie." Thanks Alice, you're really helping me get over the situation. I sigh in defeat. The phrase "living vicariously through you" repeating itself in my head.
"Oh come on Rose, I didn't even know it was possible to share the prefect's bathroom! That alone is rather valuable Hogwarts knowledge." I look at my friend. My lovely, helpful, sympathetic but otherwise completely unabashed friend. I know this gossip is incredibly valuable and she has just spent the best part of a Hogsmeade trip in the Hog's Head listening to me whine about some chap who I was fooling around with for all of two days. Now, you'll notice the mead has given me a rather more irritable edge when looking at the situation. Well Malfoy, maybe it is your loss!
"I sort of dragged him in there and we took a swim before Patricia found us outside the common room," I admit watching Alice's eyes widen even further if at all possible.
"Crickey Rose you're giving me shivers," murmured Alice dusting the layer of snow off her shoulders.
"I think that's just the snow." I assure her, "We should head inside and take a look before we need to-"
The door of Honeyduke's swings open, and of bloody course. Speak of the devil and he shall appear. Just when I was thinking my luck couldn't get any worse. Or at least the stars might align ever so slightly more in my favour. Nope. Just a surprised looking Scorpius Malfoy. I squint at him through the bright light he's released from the shop entrance onto where Alice and I are stood. It illuminates the snowflakes as they fall into his gorgeously untamed hair. His appearance at this moment causes my face to blush, the slight intoxication by winter mead had heightening the volume of my voice as I was explaining our past romantic endeavours not nearly as quietly as I should to my friend in his close vicinity. I really hope he didn't hear any of it. His eyes look almost blearily at me and I wonder if he's had a few butterbeers during the trip as well.
The man in question appears to be carrying a large bag under one arm, secured with a black gloved hand. His Slytherin scarf laid loose across his shoulders while his cloak is fastened with what looks like a small circular broach with a sizeable emerald in the centre. I blink through the light to find he's staring at my feet. I look down rather stupidly seeing my usual boots and then back up to his face which has a hint of a smile adorning his beautifully sculpted features.
"Eh-hem!" I'm startled from Malfoy's surprise appearance by Alice smirking while leaning further and further into the barrel of liquorice wands. She takes one and sucks on the end innocently watching. I seriously consider killing her at this point. But I think the mead has other ideas. Her amusement is quite apparent, and I'm painfully aware that this is due to her mead consumption.
"I'll just pop inside shall I?" she asks biting the end off as I scowl at her. Why is she leaving you behind? You don't really want to speak to Malfoy again do you? She smiles sweetly in Malfoy's direction before waltzing past me, slamming the door of the shop shut and obviously peering out the window at us. I actually laugh at how completely obnoxious she's being. This is the last time I drink five winter meads with Alice Longbottom while conversing on a rather tender topic.
"Has Longbottom has a few?" asks a rather startled looking Malfoy watching Alice pretend to take an interest in the shelf of boxed chocolates in the window display. The rather pleasant tone in his voice doesn't go unnoticed. It seems rather out of place after our last conversation. I just look at him. I would scold myself later but right now I'm unable to stop myself drinking him in. With his windswept hair and his own flushed cheeks I'm reminded rather fondly of his lips the same colour and swollen from kissing me. When he finally, looks away from Alice at me I realise I completely ignored his question in place of leering at him in a whoozy fashion.
"I didn't see you in the Three Broomsticks." It's only a statement, but it breaks the spell his glorious appearance has on me and brings me back to my senses.
"A correct observation." I try, glancing down the street for something to draw my attention away from him. Unfortunately for some reason he's watching me. This all feels awfully familiar so I take a step back from him.
"Are you alright?" I don't expect this at all. It throws me off kilter a little almost tripping over my robes as I turn back round to face him. His face is in shadow beneath the shop sign, his eyes the only feature catching the light. Why should he suddenly care? I realise with some distain that he is also swaying a little. So he's only got the guts to talk to you again since he's had a few butter beers himself eh, Weasley?
"I'm sure you can piece together and answer to that yourself Malfoy." I draw out his name unnecessarily as if to enforce the use of it. It worked. He drops his gaze to my shoes again and speaks to them instead, his brow furrowed.
"I had a few myself with Zabini earlier and … someone was looking for you." I look at him incredulously. Where is this coming from? This awkward small talk pushed on by his own beer consumption, but otherwise his new found indifference towards me suddenly forgetten. Nope, that's not how this works Mister. I feel the flare of anger lick my belly and I fail to keep acidic words forming on my tongue.
"Why are you talking to me? From what I recall from Potions, you were rather decisive upon where our relationship was. Mere acquaintances. Such relationships don't have such small-talk." This touches a nerve and he looks up at me sharply, though his jaw is set his eyes look anxious.
"Weasley-"
"Malfoy. You said it yourself. Or not in so many words that this thing isn't worth it. I was therefore under the impression to make matters easier we would go on as if we'd not begun patrolling with one another in the first place. Like ships passing in the night or some rubbish like that. Not chatting about the pleasantries of the day as if we didn't swim in the prefect's bathroom together or snog outside the kitchens."
I'm not sure where this word vomit is coming from but now it's started I can't seem to stop it. Who am I kidding. I only would have needed a single mead as a catalyst for this rant that's been brewing for days under the surface.
"For me Malfoy, those sorts of things aren't a regular occurrence. So when I've got a taste it can be rather hard to let go." I know I'll regret using that turn of phrase when I sober up on the walk home later. I can see him mentally forcing himself not to grin at that compliment. I'd slap it right off his face if he did right now, the arrogant sod. See, that anger doesn't water down very easily. When you've inherited such fiery traits from both parents you almost have to be physically doused in water to cool off.
"Weasley," he begins, finding his voice, "your cousin sort of assessed the situation did he not? Made it quite clear I wasn't welcome within a broom's length of you." He tries to keep the scorn from his voice but fails miserably, slurring the last few words. This doesn't make him appear cute right now. He threw in the (rather expensive no doubt) Malfoy towel when he dismissed me during our lesson this week. I've already said I don't beg. I'm just so overwhelmingly frustrated that a bloke that I thought had an interest in me would just throw it away over what merely boils down to childish gossip.
"James Potter is a pig."
"Well we definitely agree on that Weasley." He states, bitterly.
"Clearly you listened to him though," I scoff, "so much for the things you said, unless that was made up?-"
"I assure you it wasn't." His tone is suddenly level and firm. My chest tightens and I try to ignore it.
"Well then, why the hell did you listen to anything James has to say? He talks utter shit most of the time. Besides, he doesn't speak for me, whose opinion should realistically matter most along with yours in all this." I realise I'm talking about this as if it's not been put to rest. Like the lid hasn't been closed. He doesn't correct me.
"If you meant anything you said, then surely you giving up was a rather poor move on your part? I can't say I've had many partners in such crimes but I genuinely thought we'd hit it off. Much to my surprise I'll admit, and clearly much to everyone else in the damn castle." I take a shuddering breath of cold air, it tears at my lungs. "From what I learn't about you the past few weeks, I never would have pegged you as spineless, Malfoy." His eyes widen with shock at this severe judgement. He has the good grace to at least look discomfited.
"I didn't say I believed Potter, but Weasley, knowing half the damn school might follow on from his prejudice and derision is a rather formidable thought. For any bloke. Least of all the son of a former Death Eater."
"I never said such a thing. Something I have repeated half a dozen times by now."
"But he's got people thinking it." His eyes were dark again, a raging storm behind tired lashes.
"I already told you I didn't care about that." The fight almost leaving me in place of sympathy for the guy stood in front of me. He is right, he didn't ask for this. I know I'm fighting a losing battle. "Maybe just pretend it didn't happen at all then Malfoy. If you have any respect for me, it would make it a whole lot easier that way." He gazes at me thoughtfully. I really didn't anticipate this conversation again with him. Especially not with Alice still watching hesitantly through the window. His eyes roam my face momentarily, stopping at my lips for a moment which I bite on instinct. He makes a tentative step towards me at this point but I put my hand up to stop him.
"No Malfoy. I'm not having my heart strings tangled with anymore. And I can't do this right now." I move to open the door of Honeyduke's. "I'll see you in potions."
With that I close the door behind me leaving him looking even more disgruntled and downcast. I'm greeted by a severe looking Alice. She takes one look at my face and crams a box of fudge in my hands.
"He didn't bloody deserve you anyway."
Well this penultimate chapter hopefully got through a *hint* of Scorpius' feelings and a lot of Rose's. Also don't be pissed off at Scorpius. Imagine trying to make the whole Potter-Weasley clan like you when there are rumours flying around about you and their cousin. I don't imagine it's a nice thing for a teenage boy to deal with.
I added a few things into this chapter that were pointed out as sort of loose ends to be tied up. Originally, I was really excited about this chapter but looking through it a few times I'm not so sure. Hopefully you guys would be kind and give me some feedback.