Author's Note:

Hey, all! Thanks for reading!

Here is the story summary: I admit that I'm the competitive type. So years ago, when my dad pointed out a certain platinum blonde boy on the train platform, I accepted the challenge to beat him at everything; and succeeded, mind you. We have been in competition ever since. This rivalry has worked for five years – so why did it stop being fun?

Thank you all for your support!

In this chapter, Rose continues her daily life with her friends, accepting the fact that her and Malfoy will always hate each other. However, she is noticing that even though the silence has continued, there seems to be an extra shadow following her around. A notice is sent for the first curriculum meeting in order to start the OWL prep class. Rose learns something interesting…

Please Read and Respond!

Thanks,

xoxo

Ravenclaw_Illusions


A cool breeze pushed at my curls as I attempted to write in my journal. The page I was writing on was not cooperating with me - struggling to take flight in the wind from under my grasp. The sun was bright and warm, but their was a hint of autumn in the air. I closed my journal and tucked it into my school bag, giving in to my surroundings.

There were few people on the grounds, a couple of seventh year girls laughing, and a group of Ravenclaws heading for the Quidditch pitch to practice for their first match of the season. It was nice being an upperclassman, getting to enjoy the school grounds during free periods.

I eyed the lake, the water glittering under the sun, beckoning me closer. After carefully checking the area for any of my cousins, I got up from my place on the grass and hung my bag from my shoulder.

"Ah, what the hell," I shrugged.

I skipped over to the water, resting my bag on the dry dock, quickly kicking off my shoes. I then sat at the ledge of the dock, and dangled my feet into the cool water. I laughed to myself, throwing my head back to look up at the clouds.

"Rosie," my blissful moment was interrupted… "Well don't you look happy," Lily smiled as she sat beside me.

"I was enjoying the weather, and some peace and quiet," I replied - still staring at the sky. "That is until you showed up, bigmouth," I laughed - only half meaning my words.

She smirked, knocking her shoulder into mine. "Don't slip, Rosie, wouldn't want you to fall in."

"Okay," I nodded. I restrained a smile while saying, "I guess I deserve that."

"How are you?" She rested her head on my shoulder. "Malfoy still driving you mad?"

I looked down at her pale skin, and gentle red waves, "I'm doing my best not to lose my head."

"That must be very hard, since he makes you bonkers," She spoke in a hushed voice.

"It is impossibly difficult," I replied. "So what brings you to the lake?" I swung my feet gently swishing my toes in the water.

"I wanted to pretend to be a mermaid," She responded in a depressing tone.

"Why would you want to pretend to be a mermaid?" I knew there had to be more to that statement.

"Because I'd like to think that I'd make a fine good mermaid. I swim very well, and I like to sing. The trouble is trying to figure out how to sing underwater like they do."

"Alright, enough with this running away to be a mermaid nonsense, Lily, and just tell me what happened." I bit my lip, hoping my tone wasn't too harsh.

"Promise not to tell the family?" She pouted, while lifting her head away from my shoulder.

"Yes, I promise," I stared at her - noticing her eyes were to the brims with un-fallen tears.

"Martha Hunters is dating Cory McFadden," she squeaked.

"Oh, I'm sorry Lils," I gently patted her back. Lily has had a crush on Cory McFadden since she met him on the Hogwarts Express during her first year.

"That's not all," She said. She was staring down at her bare feet stroking the surface of the lake. "She was bragging to her friends that she's snogging him in some broom cupboard tonight, in front of the Ravenclaw table, and then she turned and looked at me, she made this nasty face at me and said, 'what are you looking at, Potter?'"

"Oh no, Lily, what did you say?"

"I said nothing," She responded softly. "But she continued torturing me, telling her friends how pathetic I was for listening in on their conversation and that I would never have a chance with a guy like him, that he has even said it himself, I'm too strange for anyone to love."

"And did you kill her," I growled.

She shook her head, "No, because it's true!" She wailed.

"No it's not," I insisted. "Lily, Martha is wrong, she's nothing, if anything she's jealous of you which is why she's trying to fill your head with this shite, it's like she's marking her territory - or something."

Lily stared over my shoulder, wiping her tears away with the back of her hand.

"What are you looking at?" I whispered.

She no longer was listening to me, eyes distant - focused yet somehow softened.

"Hello," I shook my hand in front on her face.

"Ssshh," she hushed me as she swatted my hands away. "Listen carefully," she whispered. "Keep your eyes on me, don't turn around."

Feeling suddenly uncomfortable, I froze. "Okay, now you're scaring me, what's going on?"

She gripped my shoulders tightly, "Scorpius Malfoy is watching you from under that tree."

My immediate reaction was to turn around, but that jerk of impulse stopped when my cousin dug her fingers into my skin.

"Ow," I glared. "That really hurt."

"Does he always follow you around like this?"

"I don't know," I raised my voice. "But maybe we should go somewhere else."

"Oh, right, good point." She grabbed her bag and slipped on her shoes.

I reluctantly pulled my feet out of the water, and shoved my feet into my shoes. As I was throwing my bag over my shoulder, I caught a glimpse of him in my peripheral vision. He was leaning with his back against the tree I was previously sitting under, his blonde hair almost silver in the sunlight.

Lily seemed to cheer up by this whole situation. Giggling as we hastened towards the castle, she made her jokes.

"I'm lost without you, Weasley," She attempted to drawl - fighting back her laughter. "I'm not happy unless we're together."

"Oh please," I groaned. "Not you too."

"Our arguing is just verbalized sexual tension, and this silent treatment is making me go through withdrawals," She continued.

"Shut up," I laughed, shaking my head in disagreement.

"But really Rosie," She smiled, returning to her own voice, "Why don't you just snog him already?"


Dinner Time:

Clara and Elle were waiting for me as I made my way to our house table.

"Smart of you to grab a shower before dinner," Elle stated as we started to eat.

"Yeah, with the way Laurel has been hogging the loo - I had to magic the grease out of my fringe this morning." Clara messed her fringe, a hint of frown dragged at the corners of her mouth.

"It looks fine, Clara," I tried to reassure her. "Besides it looks cute with your bun."

"Yeah?"

Elle nodded, "You'd never know."

We went most of dinner time talking about classes, and quidditch, and the latest and greatest drama's of Hogwarts. It was so refreshing to not have the focus of our dinner conversation be on me and a certain Slytherin.

"So was Lily upset, when she found out?" Elle asked, already hearing about Martha and Cory.

"She's devastated," I replied in a hushed tone. "Came to me in hysterics during my free period earlier." I drank from my goblet.

"Did you enjoy the sunshine while we toiled away in the Library?" Elle smirked.

"Hey, it's not my fault you procrastinated on the charms assignment," I placed my goblet on the table.

Something dropped onto the table in front of me.

"What's that?" Clara squinted inquisitively.

"Looks like a note," I replied, examining the envelope from where it fell.

Elle picked it up, "To Ms. Rose Louise Weasley." She offered it to me from across the table. "Looks like one of those Head Mistress Summons Letters."

"Summons?" Clara questioned.

I opened the envelope, and pulled out a piece of parchment. Unfolding the letter, I began to read.

Dear Miss Weasley,

I would like to review the curriculum of the remedial OWL class with you and Mister Malfoy tonight, at eight o'clock sharp, in your assigned classroom. Be sure to bring a quill and notebook, I'm positive you'll want to take notes. Please be there promptly.

Sincerely,

Head Mistress McGonagall

"Great," I stuffed the letter back in the envelope it came in. "There goes my night."

"What?" My friends responded in unison.

"I have a meeting with McGonagall and Malfoy about the materials for the OWL prep class," I instantly regretted saying his name.

"Yes," Elle rejoiced. "It's flirt night with the Prince of Slytherin."

"Ooh, maybe he'll be oddly helpful again," Clara added, waggling her eyebrows.

I laughed, "You two are barking mad."

"Are we?" Elle raised an eyebrow at me cheekily.

Clara shrugged and nodded, "Maybe a little."

"Yeah well so is he," I replied. "I think he's been stalking me around the castle."

"What makes you think that?" Clara leaned closer to me.

"Lily noticed him watching me by the lake during my free period," I stated.

"And wasn't he in the stadium when we flew a few laps around the pitch the other day?" Recalled Elle.

I nodded my head.


9:30pm

I gave up writing notes about forty minutes ago. McGonagall had been speaking non-stop for over an hour and by now I just wanted to grab her detailed curriculum map and make a run for it. Malfoy seemed equally bored, he shifted in his seat, nodding along with whatever she was saying, a storm clouding over his grey eyes.

"So I hope that you'll plan lessons together, and meet once a week to discuss the class, grade, and plan. You are both to log your meetings and write reflections on each class time you teach. I know these students are in capable hands, please don't disappoint me, or them. You both are aware of the importance of the OWL exams."

The Head Mistress then stood from her seat, and proceeded to leave the room, wishing us both a good evening.

Malfoy gathered his papers, and stored them neatly in a folder which he slid into his school bag.

"I thought she'd never stop talking," I muttered.

He smirked, "We should be paid for all this rubbish."

"For once we agree on something," I smiled. I tried to put my set of papers and my notebook into my bag without creasing the papers.

"You know, Weasley, you should read my apology letter," His voice sounded strained.

"How do you know that I still haven't read it?" I pushed my curls away from my face.

"You haven't," he said knowingly. "I know you haven't." He walked over to the door, and held it open, staring at me.

"What did you do charm the envelope, or the parchment, or something?" I walked towards the exit.

"I don't need magic to know that you haven't read my letter," he glanced down at the floor, shaking his head.

"Sure you don't," I rolled my eyes and stepped into the corridor.

We walked quietly down the hallway, the classroom was an equal distance between Gryffindor Tower and the Slytherin Dungeon.

"So I was thinking Mondays during our free period we could plan and get whatever else we need done for this class." He suggested.

As we were walking I heard laughter coming from the broom cupboard we were passing.

I nodded at him, "Mondays during free period is fine."

I then walked over to the broom cupboard throwing the door open, revealing Martha Hunters and Cory McFadden snogging amongst the mops.

"Out, the two of yeh," I ordered.

They jolted, alert of my presence, and scurried in different directions.

"Ten points from Slytherin, and Hufflepuff," I shouted after them, shooting a jinx in Martha's direction from under the sleeve of my robe.

"I saw that," Malfoy chuckled.

"Saw what?" I decided to play dumb.

"It's a nice touch, subtle." He smoothed his hair away from his eyes. "Don't worry about it," he waived off my concern. "I know why you did it, and Al is my best mate, so anyone who wrongs his little sister deserves it…especially that one."

"Thanks," I uttered the word, still waiting for this whole situation to bite me in the arse, "Good night, Malfoy." I made my way towards the staircase.

"Good night, Weasley."


Author's Note:

Review Please!

Thanks,

xoxo

Ravenclaw_Illusions