Thank you for all the lovely reviews for the last chapter; they really made me smile :). Sorry this one is a bit shorter than the last few but I hope you enjoy it all the same. Back to Hogwarts :).
Chapter 11 - Peaches :) xx
Scorpius Malfoy couldn't sleep. He'd eventually got into bed at 4 o'clock in the morning. He had drunk a lot more than he wanted to and he knew in the morning he was going to regret it. The only upside to the tremendous headache he was surely going to have, was that it was a Saturday and therefore he could stay in bed as long as he wanted to.
He rolled over so he was lying on his side. His stomach felt queasy and unsettled. In hindsight, he probably shouldn't have had those last couple of shots of Firewhiskey. He'd vow to never drink again if he actually thought he could stick to it. His eyes stung and felt gritty; he was so tired. Checking his watch, he saw it was quarter to six. So he'd been just lying in bed for almost two hours now. This was ridiculous.
He sat up, carefully, and pulled apart the curtains of his bed. William Flint was on the floor, asleep. He appeared to have been on his way to his bed, tripped over one of his shoes and considered sleeping on the floor a better option than getting up and into bed. Getting out of his own bed, Scorpius makes his way to the bathroom; being careful so as not to stand on Flint. He certainly wasn't in the mood for his friend to wake up and go over the events of the evening, especially as he knew Flint would ask his opinion and he wasn't quite sure of what that was yet.
Apart from knowing that Aidan Finnigan was a moronic, pathetic git whose kissing technique surely had to be as abysmal as his hairstyle… and his face for that matter.
Once in the bathroom, Scorpius let the cold water run a bit before splashing it over his face. He scowls at his reflection in the mirror, feeling both angry at himself and the entire situation. He didn't know what had gotten into him; but it was evident that he needed to pull himself together. He watches the water running down his face for a moment, before grabbing hold of a towel and drying it off.
Why in the name of Merlin had she kissed him? She had seemed so laidback and relaxed last night. She'd let her guard down. He was definite he was onto a sure thing; that a kiss was on the cards that evening… the way she'd been acting around him, the way she had looked at him and glancing at his lips. But then her stupid friend dragged her away before anything could happen. She'd dragged her off into a corner and obviously persuaded her to go and kiss Finnigan. (It was easier, much easier to believe Rosie has been convinced, rather than thinking it had all been her own idea).
He'd been knocked back before, of course he had. However with those all he had received afterwards was a slightly bruised ego and a bit of mocking from his friends. He hadn't really given any of them a second thought. He wasn't looking for anything special, just for a bit of fun. He'd just been looking for a bit of fun last night. How humorous would it have been, knowing he had that hold over her? But she had chosen someone else and although his friends hadn't bullied him about it (his friends didn't even know he'd wanted to kiss her), this feeling he had now was so much more intense than ever before.
It was just a kiss though; it wasn't like they were going to start going out or anything. It was just a stupid, drunken kiss.
He just couldn't explain it. Why did he feel so angry? Angry at Finnigan, angry at her and most of all angry at himself for letting it all get to him. Scorpius walks carefully out of the bathroom and back to bed. He knew that he wasn't going to be able to sleep much, even though every fibre of his body ached with fatigue. He knew that, because every time he closed his eyes the image of Rose Weasley kissing Finnigan, of his hands all over her body, appeared in his mind as if the image had somehow been burnt onto the inside of his eyelids.
Oh Merlin my head is killing me, and I'm pretty sure the dormitory has never been this bright in the mornings before. I screw up my eyes and bury my head into the pillow. I swear I'm not leaving my bed all day, but then again I do have quite a bit of work to do as I didn't do any yesterday. I let out a groan and roll over to see Kerry coming out of the bathroom, with a slight greenish tinge to her face and looking somewhat like 'death warmed up'. Holding her stomach, she slowly makes her way back to her bed.
"I don't remember a thing about last night," she admits.
I have to say I'm pleased. I mean, obviously it's not good that my friend drank so much she was almost in a comatose state and has now lost her memories, but it does mean that she can't recollect our conversation about Scorpius, and about how I said wanted to kiss him… and how I ended up with Aidan instead.
Aidan's not so bad; he's quite good looking, I suppose. His accent makes most of the girls in school melt on the spot when he speaks to them. But even so, hopefully he won't remember anything about it. He did drink rather a lot too, if I remember correctly. And if he hasn't forgotten, I want him to pretend like it never even happened.
"It's your own fault," says Jess, sounding bright, cheerful and not hung-over at all.
Kerry lets out a long groan and pulls her duvet over her head in response. Jess is already showered and dressed. She finishes putting her hair up into a pony tail and then turns around on the stool she's sat on, so she's facing me.
"Are you still up for going to Hogsmeade?" she asks. "I don't think the binge drinker is."
A muffled reply comes from Kerry. I had completely forgotten about it. I don't particularly feel like it but then we had been planning to go a few weekends ago, but then I had my accident.
"Come on, the fresh air will make you feel better," Jess says, trying to persuade me.
"I suppose I do need to buy some more ink and parchment," I reply. Jess looks hopeful. "Fine, I'll come," I say, getting out of bed.
I get showered and dressed as quickly as I'm able to and soon enough we're heading down to get something quick for breakfast before heading to Hogsmeade, with all the other students who have managed to make it out of bed. I pour some water into a glass and sip it slowly, not wanting to aggravate my stomach any further. Jess puts marmalade onto two pieces of buttered toast and hands me one. I take it, but only manage to nibble the corner slowly. We head towards the Entrance Hall.
"Oh, and I need some more broomstick polish," she adds, before eating her last bit of toast. She'd been telling me about some new broomstick that's due out next month and how if she saved up for several years she might just be able to afford it.
I've only made it halfway through my toast, but at least I'm starting to feel a bit better; I don't feel like I'm going to vomit everywhere now.
It's chilly outside, and the wind whips against us ruthlessly. The students who are already outside button up their coats and shove their hands into their pockets. Regretting not bringing my scarf with me, we both step outside and follow the river of students as they start to head towards the path to the village. I link my arm through Jess's, in an attempt to keep as warm as possible. In just a few hours I can be back in my lovely, warm bed having a nap, before finally getting some much needed work completed.
We head to the Post Office first, so Jess can send off her order form to 'Which Broomstick?' for a couple of jars of (I have to say, expensive) polish. Next it's Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop. We spend a bit of time looking at all the new, fancy quills that have just arrived. I make a mental note to hint to mum and dad about getting one for my birthday.
"Where is everyone?" Jess asks, as we step outside.
The streets are rather empty, considering the amount of students that were visiting Hogsmeade today. The shops have all been pretty empty too. I didn't even need to queue for my ink and parchment.
"The Three Broomsticks?" I suggest, thinking that the students were probably drawn to the glow coming from the windows, and the knowledge of how tasty and warming butterbeer is.
"We could go for a quick drink," Jess says.
"I don't think I could handle being in a place that's serving alcohol right now," I reply, "maybe in a few months."
Jess laughs at my frown, and links her arm through mine. "Madam Puddifoot's it is then."
Actually I quite like this idea, and I have enough spare change in my purse for one of her hot chocolates. We manage to find a table for two inside, right next to the window. I give Jess my money and she navigates her way through the small gaps in-between tables to the counter at the front to order our drinks.
When she comes back, she sits down with a sigh and takes off her coat. "She said she'll bring them right over."
I smile, quite happy that I came out now. Jess was right; the fresh air has made me feel better. I like sitting in the cosy café, watching all the people hurrying past as they try and get out of the cold as quick as they can.
A waitress comes over, holding a large tray. She's noisily chewing gum and has an expression on her face which clearly shows she wants to be anywhere than here right now.
"Two 'ot chocolates," she says, putting them down carelessly and spilling both of them.
"Thanks," I say sarcastically, taking my napkin and wiping up the mess.
She just shrugs and saunters off, hitting a second year on the back of the head with the tray as she passes their table. They yelp out in pain, but she just ignores them and goes back behind the counter.
Jess takes a tentative sip of her frothy drink. "Just going to nip to the toilet, and then we can talk about how Kerry got in such a state." She says, as she stands up from her chair.
"And," she adds, leaning down to my ear level as she's passing, "that kiss you had with Finnigan."
I groan. So she knows then; she witnessed the disastrous event. I knew I would come to regret it if I agreed attending that bloody party. I suppose no one can call me 'predictable' anymore, can they? So, there. I suppose Jess knowing means she can tell me who else saw it and, more importantly, who else is likely to remember it?
Thank Merlin it wasn't Flint or someone that like. I think I would have hidden under my duvet for a week if I had done. I might have even left Hogwarts all together. I don't even-
"Did you have a good shopping trip?"
Oh Merlin. Oh… it's Aidan. For a moment I can't quite remember how to speak.
"Yeah, it was alright. A bit cold, you know…" I trail off, lamely.
He smiles. "Can I take a seat?" he asks.
"Sure," I reply, "Jess will be back in a minute though."
He sits down, "this won't take long, I promise. So, how have you been?"
This is bloody awkward. "Well when I woke up this morning I felt like I had a mountain troll attacking my head with a club." I take a sip of my drink. It's lovely. I keep my hands wrapped around the cup to keep them warm, "you?"
He laughs, "pretty much the same."
"Did you have fun, at the party?"
He grins, "Aye, it was good."
"Listen-" I begin, about to apologise for kissing him so suddenly and forcefully.
"Do you want to go for a drink sometime?" he asks, "Next weekend perhaps? We can chat about your drunken attack on me."
"Oh," I say, taken aback. "Er sure, yeah. That's be nice," I tell him, forcing a smile and trying to hide my shock. A drink can't hurt, can it? It's not like he's asking me to be his girlfriend or anything like that. It's probably just a drink as friends anyway.
He smiles and I notice a small dimple appearing on his left cheek. I turn my gaze away. I don't want him to see that I'm embarrassed he mentioned the kiss, but I can already feel the redness creeping onto my cheeks.
I gasp. It's Malfoy, standing right outside the window of Madam Puddifoot's and glaring in through the window at us.
Aidan notices the expression on my face and follows my gaze. "Bloody hell, he doesn't look very happy."
Which I think is, quite frankly, stating the obvious. Malfoy looks from me, to Aidan and then down at the two cups of hot chocolate between us. He thinks we're on a date, doesn't he? But then, why would that make him so mad? Why would he even be interested in what Aidan Finnigan or I get up to?
"What's wrong with him?" Finnigan asks, "is he in pain or something?"
"I have no idea," I reply. Quickly I get up out of my seat. I want to know what his problem is. I want to know what we've done to result in the pair of us being subjected to his famous glare.
As soon as Malfoy sees me getting up, he leaves. He disappears into the crowd of people who are still determined to carry on shopping despite the cold temperatures. I feel confused and panicky… but I'm not sure why. Aidan raises his eyebrows after watching Malfoy storm off.
"I'll probably see you back at the school," he says, noticing that Jess is making her way back to the table.
He says bye and leaves. Jess sits down with a look of confusion on her face.
"You were quite a while," I comment.
"The queue in the toilets was huge. What was all that about?" she asks, "Are you alright? What did Finnigan want?"
She must be assuming that Aidan said something horrible to me concerning last night. I explain it to her; how Aidan just appeared and then asked me out for a drink, how I wasn't quite sure what it meant. Jess excitedly starts to question whether or not it's a date or a 'just as friends' drink. She babbles on and I make sure to nod along in all the right places, but I can't stop thinking about Malfoy and my confusion at his reaction.