~Chapter 11~

Scorpius

I woke up with a stiff back and cracked soul. I rose, my joints grinding and creaking with uncomfortable sleep.

"Jesus Christ." I heard someone murmur near me, and I rose, frowning at the sound.

With a sigh I rolled on some clothes, slipping by a fumbling boy with warm, blonde hair.

"Um, can you help me?" He turned to me as I went by, and I winced, turning right back to him.

"What?" I crossed my arms at my chest, my wand in my hand.

"C-could you help me with this necklace? I-it's stuck in my hair, and I can't seem to get it out."

I arched an eyebrow, nearing him with quick steps. He fumbled to take his robe off, revealing his sweater. His straight, blonde hair was stuck in between the lock of a black-cord necklace.

"Um, what's your name?" He asked, bringing a shaky hand to his necklace. His fingers twined around it; a habit.

"Scorpius." I reached up to his hair, carefully untangling the necklace from his warm, yellow hair.

"Oh, you're a Malfoy, right? Well, I-I'm Alex… Longbottom." He finished quietly, and I exhaled softly.

"You have a problem with me being a Malfoy?" I asked tensely. "Here, done." I finished untangling his necklace and dropped the necklace into his hand.

"U-Um, no. A-actually I wanted to make friends with you for long." He turned, smiling crookedly with bright eyes. "Thanks."

I nodded my head, watching as Alex reached up to his necklace, coiling the necklace around his delicate fingers. For someone so jerky and full of movement, he had hands sculpted for fine-arts.

"Want to go down to b-breakfast?" Alex ventured, trying to make friends.

I though for a moment, debating whether sulking and being alone was better that being with Longbottom. I sighed internally, knowing that I needed someone to talk to, or I might go nuts. I snorted, answering, "Fine, come on."

"Hey, did you know that the Quidditch trials are coming up next week? I'm really e-exited."

Rose

I walked down the last staircase to the Great Hall, James and Albus at my side. James had told Albus what happened, yet he didn't know details like the holding and touching they tried to do. I shivered at the thought, catching that Jamey had said my name.

"What?" I tightened the scarf around my neck, letting my large hair smother my face.

After a pause-in which I remembered his words about hiding his rage-he said quietly, "I-I… Nothing. I'm going out for some fresh air, I'll come after you."

And with that, he stomped away, leaving me with an agitated and angry Albus. He hadn't said anything, just clenched his teeth, grabbing his book. He read for a bit as we walked in silence, leaving an uncomfortable quiet to pool around us.

Now, he stood there tensely, scraping his nails against his palm.

"Come on Al. Let's eat." I whispered softly, leading Albus towards the Hall with a few more steps.

Scorpius

After a bite with Alex, I left the room, lying about going to the library for something. I walked out towards the lake, taking in the chilly air. With a large exhale, I walked, checking my watch at intervals.

Suddenly, I caught an angry yell, and a thud as something collided with something hard. I arched an eyebrow, speeding my steps to locate the voice.

Another roar sounded, and birds fluttered away from the trees, cawing in agitation. Following the angered voice, I jogged for a bit, stopping next to a tree that hid me with its looming shadows.

A cry sounded and I peeked over the bark and the leaves, staring at an angered boy, maybe a 3rd year, pounding a tree.

With a stifled gasp, I caught sight of his features; his black wild hair spraying in directions, and his thin yet lean body. His robe lay piled around his feet, while a bag was dropped on the floor, its contents strewn all around.

James stopped for a minute, panting with raging eyes. I frowned, slowly stepping out of the shadows of the tree. I was afraid of the question I was about to ask; yet curiosity and the want to slip out of this hole caught me.

"James? What's wrong?" I asked out carefully, afraid of the answer.

James froze; a statue of surprise and hatred.

He turned, slowly. His gaze latched onto mine, and he started shaking. His eyes were made of burning lava; a kind of fire that was so hot, it was icy. It licked his nostrils, agitating him even more. His fists clenched, and his knuckles paled to snow white. Potter stalked towards me, and I took a fearful step back. He must've know about Rose…

With a roar, James jogged the last steps to me, looming over me with a quivering rage. His anger was about to snap, and I tried to move out of the trap. Suddenly, my back slammed into tree bark, sending a jolt of pain up my spine.

"What the hell?" I cried, fear creeping into my voice.

James inhaled, his breath shuddering. He slammed his fist into the bark next to me, missing my ear by an inch.

"How d-dare you touch little Rose. How dare you?" He hissed, his voice dripping with hatred.

A rock dropped into my stomach, sending pangs of guilt and fear to my chest. My throat contracted, and my voice caught. Guilt tore through my gut, slamming shocks into my racing heart.

"You! She gave you a chance, when everyone, everyone, turned you down. She stood up for you, a-and you just-just- you coward!" James' voice trembled, his muscles ridged, and his body stiff with anger.

"I swore to protect her like my own sister, and you just ruined her. She might be strong, but she is still fragile. Fragile enough to crack under a heartbreak. S-she though that history wouldn't repeat with the Malfoys and Weasleys and Potters. I will not let you hurt her again. Go near her again, and I will end you."

James inhaled sharply, placing his free hand in front my face. He clenched and unclenched his hand, inhaling and exhaling with knife-sharp movements. His movements were quick and held no sanity.

I trembled, choking on feelings of guilt and sadness.

"Come close to my girl again, and I will kill you." James hissed in my face, his breath fussing with my blonde hair.

He slammed his fist into the bark next to me again, sending a jolt of pain at the tip of my ear. He growled, turning on his heel to stomp away. With a swish, he gathered his stuff, his shoulder blades stiff and his back unmoving.

I slowly slid down the tree, my body shaking softly.

Rose

My eyes burned as I watched Jamey and the Malfoy. A sickening feeling burned the bottom of my stomach, anger licking my eyes. The idiots

A.N Hello! Hope you enjoyed that chapter. I've been sick, and my creative juices haven't been flowing very well, so please excuse this chapter if it's not as well as my other ones. Also, 10+ chapters milestone! :D

Thanks for reading and please review! :D

-Demi