Hello :) I'm sorry I haven't updated in a while. I really am rubbish, aren't I? Anyway, thanks for all the reviews/favourites/alerts, and on with the story!
'So, Rose…'
'Yes, Charlie?'
'Are… are we serious now?'
'What do you mean?'
'I mean, is this is a serious relationship we're in? You still seem pretty hung up on Scorpius. '
'Oh. Well, yeah, I think we are serious, don't you? The only reason I have to think about Scorpius is when I think of how horrible he's been to me. And how much nicer you are.'
The front door swings open, revealing the person I'm so desperate to see. For a while I was shocked that he now lives in a pokey flat so similar to mine and Charlie's, until I realise that this is the most practical place for him to live in.
'Hi,' I say.
'Rose? What are you doing here? Still thinking about that kiss yesterday, and already coming back for more? It's eight in the morning; couldn't you have waited a little while longer?'
'Oh Scorpius, why do you have to joke about everything?' I demand. 'I'm here because I want to talk to you.'
'At eight in the morning?' he asks me, as though he can tell there's something wrong.
These words seem to have an incredible effect on my façade; it makes it crumble as fast as a bolt of lightning.
'I didn't know where else to go,' I sigh. 'Can I come in?'
He nods, and I enter his hallway.
'Has something happened with Charlie?' he says as soon as I've collapsed on to his sofa. I merely nod in reply.
'I understand. Tell me when you're ready,' he adds, and he sits on the chair next to the sofa.
I wonder if I should tell him everything, including the bit about the challenge. I suppose I need to tell him what's happened with Charlie, but last night still seems to be a messy blur. We fought, we argued, I know that much. He… thought I was being far too secretive, he thought I was hiding something. Had I fallen in love with someone else, he had asked me. And then I… my heart sinks. And then I had retorted, 'Someone else? Who says I was in love with you so as to be in love with someone else?'
I groan. Scorpius looks up.
'Ready to talk?'
I nod again, and sit up. My eyes meet his, and for a second I hesitate, before I tell him everything. And I mean everything. The letter from my great aunt, all the men I've kissed recently, the anxiety I've been feeling over the fact that I seem to have feelings for him, Scorpius, again, and the fact that I stormed out of my flat last night after a big argument with Charlie.
'So I need to know, Scorpius,' I sigh. 'I need to know if you feel anything for me. Otherwise I may very well have just thrown away my boyfriend for no good reason.'
Scorpius takes my hand. I flinch slightly, but I don't remove my hand from underneath his.
'I can't promise anything big, but I do feel something for you,' he assures me. 'Surely you know that? And surely you know I'm not the kind of guy who commits very easily? That's probably why you like me so much.'
I allow myself a small smile. 'You are so full of yourself, Scorpius Malfoy. It's because you're a Pureblood.'
Scorpius responds by kissing me, though I don't immediately kiss back. It doesn't take me long, however, and after we break apart I feel better.
'Oh, and don't call me a Pureblood,' Scorpius adds. 'That's prejudiced.'
I almost laugh. Almost.
I've spent the whole day at Scorpius's flat. The sun is setting, and Scorpius is in the kitchen, attempting to cook dinner. I called in sick this morning, which is possibly the worst thing I have ever done. What would my Mum say if she knew I was skipping a day at work because of something as shallow as boy problems? She'd be ashamed of me, and I'm slightly ashamed of myself at that.
'Rose?'
I jump violently off the sofa in surprise, bang my head on the ceiling and yell, 'Ow,' which causes Scorpius to come running in to the living room, wand drawn.
'What are you doing here?' he asks the man who has just apparated into the room.
'That's odd. I thought you'd ask for my name first,' says the man, half hidden in the shadows of the room.
'I know who you are,' snaps Scorpius. 'You're Teddy Lupin.'
Teddy sighs, and steps into the light. 'It was the turquoise hair that gave me away, wasn't it?'
'Just a bit,' Scorpius replies. 'What are you doing here?'
'I came to see Rose.'
'But how did you know I was here?' I ask.
'Well, I've been looking since about ten o'clock this morning, ever since Al contacted me and told me that Charlie had turned up at his and Lynne's house. Apparently you two had argued, and you'd stormed off, and Charlie had no idea where you'd gone. So, since I'm such a good Auror, Al wanted me to find you,' Teddy explains. 'Do you want to come with me to Al's house? Charlie wants to talk to you.'
I glance at Scorpius, but his face is expressionless.
'I don't know,' I say. 'Maybe I should go, just to apologise to him for what I said yesterday.'
Teddy nods.
'Do you mind if I kiss you Teddy?' I add, partly because I'm determined to still complete my challenge, partly because I need more time to decide what to do. 'You were at my party, weren't you? So you know why I want to kiss you?'
'Yes, of course,' Teddy replies, and then he grins despite the seriousness of the situation. 'Just don't tell Victoire.'
I nod, and I give him a quick kiss on the lips. I'm fleetingly reminded of when my cousins and I were little, and when Victoire, Dominique, Roxanne, Molly and Lily would have gladly faced Voldemort for the chance to kiss Teddy.
'So are you coming?' Teddy prompts me.
'Yeah,' I say, glancing at Scorpius. 'I'll try to come back as soon as I can, okay?'
'Sure,' Scorpius says, and he leaves the room.
