ELEVEN. The Evening Before The Game

"Oh my God!"

Sophie shouted, slamming a fist on the table in her excitement. I lunged forward to stop a glass of pumpkin juice from spilling all over the table.

"Soph, relax," I told her, though a smile was spreading across my lips as I watched Sophie's reaction. Aggie laughed from beside me, equally as amused.

"It's – just – too – too –"

"Spit it out! I exclaimed.

"I can't describe it in words!" Sophie shouted, stuffing a mouthful of mashed potatoes into her mouth in frustration. She pointed her fork at me threateningly.

"I'd rather you not," I said, pushing her fork away with a finger.

"I still can't believe it," Aggie piped from beside me, a dreamy look in her eyes. "After two long years, you and Timmy are finally – finally –"

"Hi Rosie."

Aggie yelped in surprise and Sophie let out what sounded like a throaty growl. A grin a mile wild immediately appeared on my face, and I tried to force it down a bit as I turned around.

"Hi Timmy," I said, trying to sound calm despite the storm brewing inside of me.

"Mind if I join you guys?" Timmy muttered.

"Sure, yes, of course," I stammered, making a big enough space in between Aggie and me. "Go ahead."

Timmy smiled and squished into the spot, awkwardly fumbling with his robes as he eyed every dish of food. He glanced at me and smiled.

"Just came from practice," he said. "I could probably eat all the food on this table."

"You could, but then you'd also probably end up back in the Hospital Wing," I pointed out.

"Exactly why I won't be doing that," Timmy chuckled. He reached over and plopped a chunk of meatloaf onto his plate, along with a ton of buttered vegetables and a fist's worth of mashed potatoes drowned in gravy.

"Well you seem to be trying," I joked.

"Don't tease me or I might really end up trying," the top of his nose crinkled a bit as he said that.

I looked at him innocently. "What if I want you to try?"

"Jeez, Rosie, do you want Gryffindor to lose tomorrow?" Timmy shook his head at me, slightly chuckling as he did so.

"Well I'm in Ravenclaw, so I could care less," I stuck my tongue out at him.

"Nonsense, Rose, you can tell ol' Timmy here the truth," Albus appeared and squished in between Sophie and an unsuspecting Ravenclaw student. "You're rooting for Slytherin this weekend."

Sophie rolled her eyes. "What're you even doing here, Potter?"

"Hey, hey, hey," Albus said defensively. "You can't kick me out. You have a Hufflepuff and a Gryffindor here with you, so might as well complete the set." Albus procured a nearby fork and stole a chunk of pork from Sophie's plate and plopped it into his mouth before Sophie could bat an eye.

"You are unbelievable," Sophie grumbled.

"Thanks, Davies, you always know how to brighten up my day," Albus sneered at Sophie.

"Anyway," Albus turned his attention back to Timmy and me. "So, what, are you guys like an item now, or something?"

I looked down, and I could feel the heat rushing to my cheeks. I wondered if Timmy was reacting a similar way.

"Well they're definitely not just friends," Aggie giggled from beside me.

"Aggie!" I whispered angrily.

"What?" Aggie shrugged innocently.

"Well, it's been a good week so far," Timmy said from beside me, awkwardly meeting my gaze and flashing me with an equally awkward grin. "Great, actually."

"It has, hasn't it?" I echoed, looking him straight in the eyes.

"Yuck, you guys are so gross," Albus said, grimacing as he watched us.

"You asked," I pointed out, glancing at Albus and sticking my tongue out at him.

"And I regret it completely," he said. He had somehow gotten his hands on an apple and was now chewing on it. It amazes me how much food he can inhale without gaining a single pound.

"Anyway," I said. "I'm not going to be cheering for Gryffindor or Slytherin. I don't want to get involved with that," I explained matter-of-factly.

"What?" Both Timmy and Albus whined.

"Rose isn't the 'Quidditch type.'" Sophie said, rolling her eyes. "It's been a problem ever since."

Timmy shook his head in incredulity. "That's impossible."

I shrugged. "Then call me impossible."

Timmy stayed silent for a while, his eyebrows crinkled in deep thought. Then suddenly, after a few moments, he jumped in his seat and turned to me.

"Rose, have you ever been on a broomstick?" he asked me.

I snorted. "Of course I've been on a –"

"No, I mean, have you ever really flown on a broomstick?" he said.

I opened my mouth to reply, but no words came out. I pursed my lips and looked down, shaking my head slightly.

Timmy stood up excitedly, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Let's go, I want to show you something." He held out his hand, and I took it. He sprinted out of the Great Hall, holding my hand firmly yet not to tight as he lead me out. I could barely keep up with his excitement.

"Timmy, where are we going?" I breathed.

"I'm going to show you the beauty of flying."

He brought me out to the empty Quidditch field. The wind was chillier, and I automatically stared at the stars that glittered in the night sky. Timmy reappeared beside me with a broom in hand and a huge smile plastered on his face.

"You're going to make me fly on a broom with you?" I asked, arching an eyebrow.

He chuckled. "You make it sound so cheesy."

"I don't even have to try," I shrugged.

Timmy positioned the broom and sat at the back, leaving enough space for one person to fit at the front of the broom.

"Shouldn't you sit up front?" I asked.

He shook his head. "You need to see it for yourself."

Reluctantly, I positioned myself in the front, grasping tightly onto the edge of the broom. Before I was even aware of it, Timmy had already kicked us off the ground, and we flew up into the air.

My grasp around the broom tightened instinctively, and I was getting more and more nervous as we raised higher up into the air. Timmy snaked his arms around my waist and leaned forward so he could hold onto my hands. He steered us left and right very slowly. After getting the hang of it, he started to manoeuvre us in the air, going faster and faster. I could feel the wind in my hair, but it wasn't one of those unpleasant breezes – I felt invigorated and refreshed.

We slowed down in front of the goals, and turned around so we could see the entire field unfold before us.

"Do you see it?"

"See what?"

Timmy paused before continuing. "Everything. This is what I love so much about being the Keeper. Here, I can see everything – the people on the field, the people on the benches, the sky, the grass . . . I can literally see life in parts, or as the bigger picture," he said. "Does that make sense?"

"Yeah, but how do you see life during a game? Shouldn't you be focusing on stopping the opposite team from scoring?"

I could feel him shrug. "Like I said, you can see everything all at the same time, whether it's in super speed or slow motion, you see it, how beautiful life can be."

I bit down a smile as I listened to Timmy. As cliché as it sounded, he was becoming more and more perfect as I got to know him.

I leaned back slightly, my shoulders relaxing as I began to feel his warmth spread around me. The weather was getting colder, especially up in the air, but neither of us felt like moving.

"Sweet Merlin!" I exclaimed suddenly, almost knocking us both off the broomstick. "What time is it?"-

Timmy paused before replying, and I guessed it was because he was startled and trying to gather his thoughts. He leaned forward and lifted his right arm slightly so I could read it. His left hand tightened around the broomstick.

"Ugh, I have to go," I whined as I read the time, drawling my words exaggeratedly. "I have patrols."

Timmy gave a small whimper that I could hear only because of our close proximity. "Can't you skip out just this once?" he begged.

"Timmy, you know I can't, or else McGonagall will have my head," I reasoned.

He gave another, louder whimper as he slowly lowered the broomstick to the ground. I hopped off as soon as our feet touched the ground.

"Good luck tomorrow," I told him. "I'll be cheering for Gryffindor," I whispered, pecking him on the cheek before I could even register the gesture. I ran away, flustered. My entire body was burning up despite the chilly evening weather.

I dashed through the corridors, not knowing where my feet were taking me. I glanced around me in passing and saw I was probably near the dungeons – nowhere near the second floor, where I was supposed to meet Zachary almost ten minutes ago.

I leaned on the nearest wall, breathing heavily. My heart was beating so hard I was afraid it would pop right out of my chest. I could feel the heat emanating from my entire body.

Merlin Rosie, why are you so panicked? I scolded myself. I peeled myself off the wall and was about to resume walking when a familiar, not-so-welcome voice called out to me.

"Rose?"

I rolled my eyes as I turned around to face Scorpius.

"What are you doing here?" I spat.

His eyebrows scrunched up as he took a step forward. "I should be the one asking you that. What brings you here to the Slytherin dungeons?"

My eyes widened as I registered my surroundings. "Right. I should be going now –"

"Why are you so red? You look sunburnt," Scorpius pointed out.

"Sod off, Malfoy," I snapped.

I turned to walk away when Scorpius grabbed me by the wrist and held onto it firmly. He lightly pulled be back.

"Rose, wait," Scorpius practically begged. My eyebrows rose as I turned around.

"What's wrong with us?" he asked, the frustration in his voice spilling out.

"What do you mean what's wrong with us?" I parroted.

"Isn't it obvious? You practically cringe at the mere mention of me now. A few weeks ago we were getting along wonderfully. We even kissed," he took a step forward, his hand still holding onto my wrist firmly. His eyes stared down at me with such intensity I thought my knees were going to give. "More than once, might I add?"

"You know for a fact those were all accidents," I said matter-of-factly. "Besides, how can you be so casual about that when you've got a girlfriend and just before that you were in this clandestine relationship with Aggie –"

"Aggie?" Scorpius exclaimed. "You think I was in a relationship with Aggie?" He chuckled. "Why?"

"I overheard you both, in the library," I said. "And isn't it so obvious how differently she acts around you?"

Scorpius guffawed, his laughter bouncing off the walls in the dungeons. "Well, I normally would've waited for Aggie to tell you, but . . . " I raised an eyebrow as I stared at him. "Aggie wasn't ever with me, she was with Zabini."

My jaw dropped. "Zabini? As in Christiano Zabini, the one she hates, that Christiano Zabini?"

Scorpius nodded in between his chuckles.

"I can't believe she hasn't told me," I muttered.

For a few moments, there was only silence, until I realized Scorpius was still firmly grasping my wrist. I pulled away forcefully.

"That doesn't change the fact you shouldn't be making such a big deal about those kisses," I said. "You've got Laney and I –"

"Have got Honda?" he said bitterly. "I still don't know what you see in him."

"What is your bloody problem with Timmy?" I shouted.

"I just don't think he deserves you," Scorpius said. "Has he even asked you to be his girlfriend?"

"That – that's not of your business," I shouted. "Why do you keep trying to involve yourself in my life? A few months ago we barely even said two words to each other!"

"Is it bad that I care about my best mate's cousin?" Scorpius snapped.

"I was your 'best mate's cousin' ever since you met him," I said, my voice seething. "Why care now?"

"Because I – " he stopped midsentence and looked away. "You know what, never mind. Just do whatever you want with your precious Timmy," he spat, slowly walking away from where I was standing.

"I will, thank you very much!" I retorted. "Anyway, he's twice the man you'll ever be, Malfoy!"

It happened before I could even register what was going on.

Scorpius turned back around and pinned me to the wall. He put his lips on mine, the feeling both powerful and delicate. He pulled away after a few seconds, his angry eyes fixed on me.

"See you at the game tomorrow," he muttered, before walking deeper into the dungeons.

My back was pasted onto the wall; my eyes still wide, and my mouth still speechless.

What just happened?

(a/n):

Wow, it's been a while, hasn't it? Happy New Years everyone! I'm sorry this chapter took so long, but what with all the extra schoolwork and worrying about college (which is, essentially, my future) I was drained of all my inspiration, as well my time, to write ): I actually had half already written before Christmas, but I just didn't finish it in time (urgh!)

Sooooo... anyway. Time to welcome 2013 with a new chapter! I will (hopefully) have the next chapter up by next week :)

Schoe xx

PS. REVIEW!