Chapter 12
The following morning, Scorpius packed his trunk for the trip home in a daze. Memories of yesterday with Rose came to him in flashes, each leaving him hot and excited at once. He wanted to be with her, every minute. How was he going to survive being away from her for two weeks? They had agreed not to sit together on the train ride home in order to let things cool off between himself and James and Albus, who would be hovering around for certain; but as the thought sank in that it would be the last time he'd see Rose until at least after Christmas, he began to wonder if he shouldn't just find a car to be alone with her any damn way.
"I'll owl you as soon as I get home. I'll talk to my parents about you visiting, if you still want to," Rose told him as they kissed, over and over before parting ways.
"Even if you didn't ask, I'd show up at your home anyway. I'd throw pebbles at your bedroom window and wait for you to come out," Scorpius told her.
"What're you standing there grinning about?"
In a flash, Scorpius' daydream crumbled, leaving behind it a smirking Colt.
"Nothing," Scorpius said quickly, his face getting hot. He made a production out of shoving more clothing into his trunk.
Colt playfully shoved him. "Bollocks. You shagged her yesterday, didn't you?"
"No, I didn't!" Scorpius snapped. He didn't want anyone to know his business with Rose, not even his best friends. It was between them.
"Then where were you yesterday? Marcus told me you had a go with James in front of the whole school and then ran off with Rose. Didn't see you at all yesterday, not at lunch, not walking the halls. So where were you?"
"None of you bloody business, is where," Scorpius said, refusing to submit.
"You weren't studying all that time, were you? I'd think I'd rather hear you were with your girl that in one of those bloody little library cubicles."
Colt had given Scorpius the perfect reply. "Oh, alright, mate. I was in the library. I've got to get top marks or else my parents will go barmy on me."
"Pathetic. I was hoping for some good details," Colt said, shaking his head.
Scorpius thought quickly to keep the subject off his beloved. "So, what've you and Roxy got planned for the holidays?"
Colt shook his head. "Nothing. She'll be gone the whole break. They're going to Romania to see her uncle. She said he breeds dragons. She hopes to collect some samples for some potion she's experimenting with."
"Dragons, eh? They're a fierce lot," Scorpius said, snapping his trunk closed. "Come on, we don't want to miss the train."
"Roxy can handle it. She's tougher than she looks," Colt said. He dragged his trunk behind him, following Scorpius. "Where's Marcus? Is he still bitter over Roxy and I?"
"No, he's with Marissa. I believe they've got a seat together on the car. It'll just be you and me, Toady," Scorpius said.
"Not on your life. I've got to sit with my girl! I won't see her for two weeks!" Colt said.
"So find my own compartment, then?" Scorpius said.
"Why don't you just sit with Rose?"
"Because James and I are at each other's throats, is why. He's been glaring at me all week, along with his arse of a brother, and the next thing you know, they'll have Fred, Jr. in it too!"
"I wouldn't give a shite about none of them, if I was you. Besides, Roxy's brother's cool, he won't mess with you. He stays out or our business, besides," Colt said. "Just sit with her. Who cares? It's practically Christmas!"
The train was noisy and crowded, which annoyed Scorpius as kept getting jostled while he moved along the car trying to find a compartment that was suitable. He had never been one with hoards of friends, and he'd been poked fun of enough for being the best in the year. Crowds bothered him immensely. But finally, he found a single compartment towards the front of the train. He should have looked there first, as most students headed for the back where they could get away with more trickery and making out. The only monitors on the train were the Head Boys and Girls, but they typically stayed in the middle sections of the cars.
Scorpius closed the door of the cozy compartment and slung his trunk in the holding place above the door. He'd brought some magazines along for the ride, one of which was a sort of catalog from Rose's Uncle George's joke shop. He thumbed through the pages, trying to keep his mind off of Rose as the train gave a low, familiar whistle, then began its lurch forward.
Some time passed, and Scorpius was heavily into his third magazine (well known artists and their works) when there came a soft tapping on the glass. He looked up to see Rose standing outside his compartment, looking lovelier than ever as she waved shyly at him. His heart leapt to his throat and before he knew it, he had jumped to his feet.
"I thought we weren't going to sit together," Scorpius said, his hands already on her, pulling her in. He quickly pointed his wand at the windows, charming the blinds down. The last thing he wanted was for James to see Rose with him. No Head Boy of Head Girl could keep the two of them apart if they got into a fight, and they were still at least an hour from Platform Nine and Three Quarters.
"I know. I couldn't stay away," Rose said. "I–"
She attempted to explain, but his mouth was already on hers, his hands sliding down to her waist, pulling her closer.
"I should've been the one to find you," he murmured against her soft skin, trailing his hand down her hair. "I'm sorry…"
"Don't be," Rose said, taking his hands and pulling him down to the seat. "Roxy and I planned to sit together, but then Colt came in and…well…they were all over each other. I moved to the car with Lilly and Gabrielle Hartfort. Lilly knows I'm not speaking to James or Albus so she refused to let them sit with us but they kept barging in and annoying me. Finally, I just told her I was going to find you."
She paused, picking up his magazine. "Were you busy? I can leave–"
"You're not going anywhere," Scorpius said before he tugged her forward and kissed her.
"I love you," she whispered, stroking his face.
"I love you, too," Scorpius said. They kissed again, Rose sliding closer.
"We're going to end up doing what we did all yesterday," Scorpius murmured in Rose's ear.
"Oh, I don't care, you can have me here," she whispered. Giggling, she sat up and pushed her hair back. Taking a deep breath, she slid away from him. "No. I didn't mean that. I can't, we can't, just start losing control."
"I won't touch you again," Scorpius said. The last thing he wanted to do was make her feel like he was pressuring her…but then she smiled that smile at him, and scooted closer to him, settling her head comfortably against his shoulder.
"Don't be silly, Scorpius. Actually, there's something I have to talk to you about," she said. She laced her fingers with his.
"What's that?"
"Roxy and FJ are going out of town all break. That changes things a little, because that means that James and Albus will be around a lot more," Rose said glumly.
"You don't want me to come?" Scorpius asked.
"I do. You know that I do. And the rest of my cousins will be fine. My Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny and Uncle George and Auntie Angelina, they're so sweet and wonderful…It's just James who has to be the arse. And Albus will do whatever James does. If it weren't for James, I'm sure I could talk Albus into being polite to you, but it's like James can do no wrong. He'll do whatever he thinks will please James," Rose complained.
"What is James' problem, anyway? I don't understand what our relationship has to do with him in the slightest," Scorpius retorted.
"He's just an arrogant arse, and he's spoiled rotten by my Aunt Ginny because he's the first born and he looks just like my Uncle Harry did when he was young," Rose said, rolling her eyes in disgust. "Supposedly his grandfather was the same way in school."
Scorpius smiled. "I thought I'd have to wait until I got to your house for the Potter-Weasley history lesson. I love it. It's interesting, really. I wish things were different between your cousins and I, but it's still interesting to hear."
Rose paused, then sat up and faced Scorpius. She traced his nose with her finger. "That's quite enough about my family. I'm sure everyone is sick of hearing about them. Tell me about your family. I want to know everything."
"Well, I think you know some things already. People talk," Scorpius said with a shrug.
"I want hear about your family from you."
"No, I don't think you do," Scorpius said. He felt his emotional walls go up immediately; it hurt him that he felt ashamed of his family and the terrible things they had done. He wished so badly that he could have just come from a normal group of wizards and witches. He wished he didn't feel uncomfortable talking about it to Rose.
"You never speak about them," Rose said. "I want to know about them. The good and the not so good."
"Maybe another time," Scorpius said gently.
"Alright," Rose said. He was grateful she seemed to understand. She leaned against him again, her arms going around his middle firmly. His eyes closed as her lips brushed against his neck lightly. He gasped as he felt her tongue touch the sensitive skin just below his ear, and then he seized her by her head, pulling her into a passionate kiss. Their mouths moved against each other's slowly, deliberately. Scorpius touched his tongue to hers, fully aroused.
"Let's talk about something fast, else we'll be in trouble," Scorpius whispered.
Rose looked him in the eye, and said quickly, "Okay. Roxy and Colt are shagging."
Scorpius laughed. "Now? On the train?"
"Well, probably. But I meant in general."
"Er, okay. I figured they were. That certainly is a mood killer, thinking of Colt stark naked."
Rose giggled. "I'm sorry! Don't be mad, but she knows about us…um…"
"You told her?"
Rose blushed. "I didn't mean to. She mentioned that she'd tried to get into the Room of Requirement yesterday, and it hadn't worked for her. And then she looked at me and she asked me right out if I was in there. I find it so difficult to lie, especially to her."
"Well, as long as she doesn't tell her brother, I guess I'll be able to live a little longer."
"She swore to secrecy. She's my best friend. She won't say anything."
"I didn't tell my friends, but then, blokes are different. I just don't want them knowing what we've done, though I'm sure Colt has pretty much guessed. He tried to get me to tell before we got on this train, but I wouldn't. Actually, what you just told me must mean that Colt likes Roxy more than I thought, because he didn't tell me at all."
"Oh, your poor friend, Marcus. Does he still fancy her? So many boys do…"
"Marcus is with some seventh year. He's been following her around like a lovesick pup for two weeks. I think he's over it."
"That's good," Rose took a deep breath. "So. Can go back to kissing, then?"
"Sound brilliant," Scorpius said.
He was leaning towards her when there came a loud banging on the door of the compartment. Rose whirled around so fast her hair smacked Scorpius in the face.
"Rose? Are you in there? Please, if you are, open the door!"
It was Roxanne's voice, and she sounded hysterical. Rose leapt from the seat and flung the door open. "What's happened?" Rose asked.
"Oh, it's just awful! James and my brother just attacked Colt! Just because they interrupted us!"
"How bad is Colt hurt?" Scorpius said, heading for the door.
Roxanne looked at Scorpius and blinked. "Colt's fine. It's James and my brother that need the help. I used too strong a spell, and I think I've really hurt James. I need Rose to come and make things right with him. Quickly, before the train stops. My mum will kill me if you can't. Please, Rose, come now!"
Rose gave Scorpius an apologetic look. "Just stay here. Please. I'll try and come back before the train stops."
"I'll send Colt here with you," Roxanne called to Scorpius as she pulled Rose away down the long corridor of the train.
Scorpius pulled the door closed, and sat back down. Damn James. And FJ as well? Hadn't Colt said he was cool? Damn him, too.
Just as well, thought Scorpius. He certainly wouldn't want to greet his mother with a hard on. He was curious to know what had happened, especially since Roxanne had apparently lost a temper she didn't let on she had. Rose had asked him to wait here, and he would do anything she wanted, so despite his urge to find her and his friend, he picked up his magazine and waited for Colt to join him.