Hi! Okay so I wanted to update quickly for you guys to make up for the huge wait in between my previous chapters, so here it is! Thanks again for reading and reviewing, you've all been so sweet! And to the Guest reviewer who pointed out my flaw in the poker scene, thanks for letting me know! My knowledge of poker comes from playing a few hands when I was about 9 and a lot of Mario mini-games. I was camping at the time I wrote that chapter, and didn't have any means to check whether I had the rules right. I've changed it to something I'm more familiar with! Sophie
Of course, shit (Alice has been teaching me to swear) had hit the fan when I left the third-floor corridor. It was about 6:30 when we eventually woke up and walked to the Great Hall together, both in our rumpled school uniform from the previous day and both with messy hair and matching Cheshire Cat grins. We parted ways with a hug, and Scorpius murmured in to my ear, "Get ready for the rumours to start."
I, being the girl I am, only smiled and blushed slightly at his breath on my ear. Besides, I had absolutely no idea what he meant. I do now.
For two days I've been dodging girls asking me 'Is Scorpius as good as they say?' and avoiding the leering eyes of guys. Rumours spread like wildfire, and soon anyone who had contact with human beings had heard that Scorpius and I had slept together. Which we did, but in the most innocent of terms.
Alice nearly had a seizure when I walked up to the Gryffindor table after my night with Malfoy. Her toast had fallen out of her hand and her mouth made a perfect 'O'.
"You slept with Malfoy?" she had demanded as I slipped on to the bench in between her and Dom while simultaneously fixing my hair.
I had to explain it all, including the new addition to my face, while buttering my bagel. Already people had begun looking at me and whispering.
Two days later and I was sick of it. Like, really truly sick to death. I sort of preferred when no-one knew who I was and I could fly under the radar. It was even worse this morning. Because it was Saturday today, the students weren't distracted by class, and had all day to try and talk to me about it. I was hiding out in an alcove behind a statue of a one eyed witch to avoid gawking third years when Professor McGonagall found me.
Well this can't be good.
"Ms Weasley, if you will accompany me to my office I would appreciate it. Promptly, if you will" the ancient Headmistress instructed, tight lipped. The only times I had been in her office were to praise me on my perfect record, or ask if I could tutor some first years. Somehow, I didn't think this would be one of those times.
I packed up my bag and slung it over my shoulder, before walking demurely behind the woman I had grown to respect immensely. My heart is hammering, and I wrack my brains to try find the reason I'm in trouble. It can't be my grades. I mean, yes, I have slipped below my usual grades, but I'm still passing! Except for that one Astronomy practical. Maybe it's because I skipped class? Talking back to teachers? My uniform? Subconsciously, my hands pull the hem of my skirt down to a more respectable length. Oh my God, what if I get expelled?
Climbing past the huge gargoyles that guard the Headmistress's office, I sit when McGonagall gestures towards a cushy arm chair.
"Ms Weasley," she starts as I bite my lip, "We've noticed how your behaviour has… altered somewhat from your previous years here. The staff are all concerned to find a star pupil not reach their full potential. Skipping class, talking back to teachers, neglecting your Prefect duties and getting detentions; this is all rather out of character for you. Do you have any comment on this?" McGonagall primly informed me. I felt my cheeks flush in shame.
I had so much respect for the woman who was peering at me behind a pair of horned glasses. She had fought in a war, defended her school and students, and continued on as if it were nothing. It actually pained me to lie to her. But I couldn't exactly tell her I was doing all this for a bet, could I? I opened my mouth and garbled out the first thing that came to mind.
"I just cracked, Professor. There is so much pressure on me, both from other students, my family and my reputation. I've worked hard all my life and it became too much for me. I'm so sorry, but I simply can't continue to work and function at my old level. I feel like I need to prove that I'm not what everyone wants me to be, that I'm my own person. I really am sorry, ma'am." I bowed my head, only just realising that there was a hint of truth in my words.
Peeking up through my lashes, I gauged her reaction. Her hard mouth softened a tad around the edges, and I think I saw her eyes flash with pity.
"Ms Weasley, I understand your situation and thank you for feeling like you can confide in me. I empathise with what you're going through. However, seeing as you have been shirking your duties as Prefect and role model to other students, and show no desire to change your ways, I will have to strip you of your title. I'm most sorry at this, as you are one of my favourite students." She paused, before adding as an afterthought, "Don't tell people I said that. As Headmistress, I technically can't have favourites."
Smiling at the woman before me, I tried to comprehend what she was saying. Strip me of my title? Meaning I'm no longer a Prefect? Merlin, Mum will go ballistic. Dad too. This isn't good.
"Professor, isn't there any way you can reconsider? I-" "-"I'm afraid not, Ms Weasley. I will write to your parents to inform them of the change. Oh no need to look so worried, I'll make sure they know you are stil excelling in school. I'll say you had too much on your plate. The role of Prefect will be delegated to a girl who, as I understand, is a rather good friend of you: Samara Boot. You may tell her. That's all, and you can go now." Professor McGonagall beckoned to the door, and got up from behind her mahogany desk.
I can't believe I'm not Prefect anymore. For my entire life I worked towards being Prefect, and then Head Girl. It was my goal since I stepped in to this castle. And suddenly it's vanished, ripped out of my grasp. Of course I knew I couldn't stay Prefect, not with my behaviour. But in my head it was always, 'One day I'll get sacked'. Now that it's actually happened, I feel sort of empty. The old Rose was truly gone. Tears pricked in my eyes, and I'm suddenly questioning whether or not I was doing the right thing. I remembered studying with Avy beside the lake, joking about Lily and her stupid band of 'it girls'. I missed that. But then I thought of how happy I was last night, laughing with Scorpius in the pitch black. The rush I felt after I did something reckless, and how good it felt to over-step boundaries. This is the right thing for me, no matter what my parents say.
As I shut the door, I heard McGonagall murmur, "Poor girl" before the she is muffled by the thick wood.
"At least you know McGonagall still likes you. Have you told Samara yet?" Alice said, as I recounted what happened to her over dinner. I ladled some soup in to a bowl and grabbed a bread roll off a first years plate. What? The tray with rolls is at the other end of the table, there's no way I'm walking that far for bread!
"Yeah, I found her in the library at lunch. She seemed pretty excited. And at least I don't have to worry about doing Prefect patrols anymore!"
"Rose, you didn't do those anyway." I grinned, and raised my bread loaf in acknowledgment. I think I did a patrol, what, twice?
"Rosie, swallow your food. Malfoy is heading over here, and you're the only Gryffindor he actually talks to. Eat woman, you don't want to sit there with a full mouth looking like a gnome!" Alice breaths harshly in to my ear, and I chew my bread furiously. There, eaten. Crisis averted.
Ignoring the looks sent over by most Gryffindors, Scorpius is indeed marching towards me. I think I hear some fifth years across the table giggling to each other, and a blonde seventh year moans, 'I wish I was her'.
"Malfoy," I greet when he comes to a halt before me, "what can I do for you?"
Another smirk. I'm seriously beginning to doubt whether or not his face can do anything other than that. His eyes flash when he speaks.
"Forgotten our little date tonight? The unplanned Hogsmeade trip?" Oh shit, I had completely forgotten about that. Apparently the blank look on my face speaks for itself.
"I'm hurt, Weasley. Here I was, looking forward to a night with my favourite Gryffindor and my friends, and you forgot about it." He teases sarcastically. My ears went red, an annoying trait my dad had passed on, at the thought of spending the entire night with Scorpius, and there was warmth in my tummy from being called his favourite.
Oh Merlin, that's not good.
"I was just waiting to see if there was a better offer. But seeing as you were so looking forward to it, I'll blow of all my other hot dates. This is Alice, she's coming too." I nod towards my best friend, who smiles charmingly at the boy. Alice was shooting me some seriously confused looks, but only when Scorpius had turned away from her. 'Later', I mouth to her. I seem to be saying that a lot to Alice. I should invest in a planner; I seem to always forget to fill her in on things.
"10 o'clock then, outside the Slytherin Common Room." Malfoy told me before traipsing back to his table to sit beside Theo. Theo waved at me.
"So," I said to Alice, "want to come to Hogsmeade tonight?"
"Rose, what the hell do people wear when they sneak out?"
"How am I supposed to know? You're supposed to help me!"
"Oh yeah. Shit."
Alice and I were running around our Common Room at 9:45, trying to work out the appropriate attire for breaking out of a castle. Of course, this meant we'd be late, as it takes fifteen minutes to get dressed and made up, and at least ten minutes to get to the dungeons from here. Use of secret passages included. But then again, if we were a few minutes late, we wouldn't seem over-eager – which is good, I think.
"Okay, so here's what I'm thinking. You wear that," Alice said, gesturing to a pile of clothes on her pillow, "and I'll wear that." Indicating to the fabric on the foot of her bed.
I trusted her choice, so I just nodded and grabbed the clothes.
"When you're ready, meet me at the Portrait hole and we'll go. Thank you so much, Alice." I hugged her tightly before dashing in the bathroom to change. After throwing on the clothes she'd picked out –which turned out to be jeans, converse, a sheer black shirt and a zip-up hoodie- I ran a brush through my flaming hair and touched up my make-up. Absolutely flying down the stairs and through the Common room, I raced to meet Alice. I brushed past a guy in my year, Evan Murray, who stood up and started saying, "Rose! Want to-" before I cut him off with, "Sorry Evan, I'm in a hurry! I'll talk to you tomorrow!". I saw Alice, standing right next to the Fat Lady, and pulled her out the door. And I only tripped once!
We walked down the eight flights of stairs (EIGHT!) hiding from Peeves once, when he flew around and pelted any students who remained out after curfew with Stinksap. We came to a stop in before the Slytherin Portrait Hole.
"Dirty Blood" the man in the portrait next to us sneered. McGonagall had tried to remove those after the war, but the Carrows had used a Permanent-Sticking Charm during their year here. There would always be a section of the school that had been tainted by the past.
"Oh, piss off." Alice shot back, and drew the curtain over the man's pasty face and black eyes.
"My thoughts exactly, Longbottom" said a cool voice behind us. We whirled around to find Lottie staring at us, a smirk fixed in place. What is it with Slytherins and smirking? Do they have a lesson on the first day? 'The Art of Smirking: Introduction'?
"Oh, and I like the new piercing Weasley. Scorp did a god job." I flushed at her words, remembering the dark room and Scorpius' hands on my skin.
Lottie's black and green hair was in a high pony-tail, making her narrow face seem even more pointed. I heard Alice swallow loudly beside me, and her hand found mine. I grasped it tightly, to show I was as nervous as she was, and that we'd help each other. Alice had more experience with socialisation, however I had more experience with the Slytherins.
"Come on Weasley, Longbottom. The boys are waiting for us near the portrait of Severus Snape" Lottie said tightly, before spinning around and walking down the corridor. She walked with a confidence that I was only faking, and her hips swung with every step.
Alice and I looked at each other.
"Ready?" she whispered.
"As I'll ever be." I muttered back, before stepping to follow Lottie in to a night that would surely be eventful.
A/N Well there it is! Hope you liked it! Any feed back would be hugely appreciated, on both my writing style, storyline or characters! I am, after all, writing this for you guys, and I want you all to love it! Please review, it means the world! xxx
