Author's Note: So, listening to the AVPS cast recording while typing this up might have slowed down the process a bit, but it was totally worth it ;)
There is a song in this chapter, but it's a short one, and it also means that we hear from Scorpius again, and that's a good thing, right?
-SQ
Disclaimer: Please tell me you don't actually need one.
Chapter Fourteen: Saying No
Rose stared down at the unopened letter in her hand with an overwhelming sense of guilt. It didn't matter how many times she told herself that she and Scorpius weren't officially dating, and so what she had been doing with Nick wasn't technically cheating, it still felt a hell of a lot like that to her.
She hadn't meant to let him kiss her last night, but, in retrospect, what else would he have meant when he asked to say goodnight to her? And the fact that she didn't kiss him back had had a lot more to do with shock than with rejection.
Just once I'd like to be involved in a kiss that was two-sided Rose thought.
Rose looked back down at the letter in her hand. The envelope was purple and she had a pretty good idea what would happen when she opened it. Checking once last time to make sure the dormitory was clear, she slid her finger under the seal and then released the letter into the air above her head, where it hovered for a moment before beginning to sing with Scorpius's voice to the accompaniment of an invisible guitar.
I look at you all, see the love there that's sleeping
While my guitar gently weeps
I look at the floor and I see it needs sweeping
Still my guitar gently weeps
I don't know why nobody told you
How to unfold your love
I don't know how someone controlled you
They bought and sold you
I look at the world and I notice it's turning
While my guitar gently weeps
Every mistake we must surely be learning
Still my guitar gently weeps
I don't know how you were diverted
You were perverted too
I don't know how you were inverted
No one alerted you
I look at you all, see the love there that's sleeping
While my guitar gently weeps
I look at you all
Still my guitar gently weeps
If Rose had felt guilty before opening the letter it was nothing to how she felt now. Scorpius was ill, she was exchanging what were practically love letters, albeit unconventional ones, with him, she certainly had feelings for him, and yet she was going off and spending time alone with Nick. And now this song; it was as though Scorpius knew what had been happening between her and Nick in his absence and was bemoaning it to her in song.
Rose picked up the piece of parchment that had fluttered out of the envelope when it had begun to sing. The note was short this time, only a few lines long.
Rose,
That song has been stuck in my head ever since my guitar arrived and I just had to send it to you; maybe now it will finally leave me alone. And bother you instead.
And if I didn't tamper with spells and play my guitar I would die of boredom over here and then where would we be?
I know what I miss most about you: That scrunched-up look you get on you face when you want to laugh but are desperately trying to stay mad at me.
Smugly yours,
Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy, Head Boy Extraordinaire
Rose reread the note half a dozen times, wishing it was longer, wishing she know how to replay the song Howler. Whatever she did or didn't feel for Nicholas Boot (and she was still rather fuzzy on that point) it didn't even compare to this. She knew that, so why did she keep saying yes to him?
I only want to be friends her mind argued. Yes, she thought back, but you know very well that that isn't all he wants.
She folded Scorpius's letter and placed it carefully into her trunk with the others, resolving that the next time Nick came onto her she would say no.
*****INEBHG*****
Rose didn't see Nicholas at all on Sunday, a fact she was most grateful for. She spent most of the day inside the Gryffindor common room, completing her homework, playing chess, Gobstones, and exploding snap with her friends, and writing her reply to Scorpius.
Scorpius,
Then, my dearest Scorpius, you would be dead, your parents would be out of a good amount of money for nothing, and I would still be at Hogwarts, working myself into the ground to keep up with my Head Girl duties and score well on my NEWTs.
Thanks ever so for passing the song on to my head.
And I do not get a "scrunched-up" look on my face when I am mad at you, Scorpius Malfoy, I get a mad look on my face because you are being an ass. So there.
Talk to you soon,
Rose Hermione Weasley, Hogwarts Head Girl
*****INEBHG*****
Nick came up to Rose as she was leaving the Great Hall after breakfast on Monday.
"Good morning, Rose," he said, smiling his dazzling smile. "I didn't see you yesterday."
"No," said Rose. "I had—er—things to do."
"Did you get them done?" asked Nick pleasantly.
Doesn't he even notice that I'm stuttering like a gibbering moron? thought Rose.
"Yes."
"I'm glad to hear it," said Nick. He offered her his arm. "Walk with me to class?"
No, said Rose's brain. You kissed me and people already think we're dating and you aren't Scorpius!
"Er—sure."
Rose walked to Transfiguration with Nick, aware of all the eyes that turned toward them along the way. Someone even wolf-whistled. Rose thought she might die of embarrassment.
*****INEBHG*****
Transfiguration was the only class Rose had with Nick on Mondays, so it wasn't until after dinner at the prefect meeting that she saw him next.
Knowing she was being cowardly and trying not to ignore Scorpius's voice in her head making a snide comment about a Lion slinking around with its tail between its legs, Rose waited until it was time to begin the meeting and then walked in with Lily.
"Alright," she said. "Now, the year is three quarters of the way over and I know it's easy to get bored and complacent at this point, but this is actually an important time to step up our game in terms of…"
As she talked, Nick nodded along, and when she was finished he made many points that were very similar to hers. She knew Scorpius wouldn't have been so quick to agree with her view of things; he would have presented a counter-argument and they would have debated it until they had managed to convey a message that was better and more well-rounded then either of the two original ones. Lily had been right, Rose realized, she and Scorpius did complement each other.
"Rose. Rose. Rose."
Rose blinked. The meeting room was empty of all but her and Nick; the meeting had ended and been dismissed without her even noticing.
"What—? Oh, yes…"
Rose picked up her bad and started toward the door.
"Wait." Nick was once more offering her his arm. "May I walk you back to your tower?"
"Er—" said Rose. "It's in the opposite direction of yours."
"It's no trouble," said Nick. "It's my pleasure."
So Rose once more found herself walking back to Gryffindor Tower accompanied by Nicholas Boot.
"Er—here we are," said Rose awkwardly when they had arrived at the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"Yes," said Nick. He smiled down at her. "Here we are."
He reached out a hand and cupped her cheek gently, drawing her face up toward his.
"No!" said Rose, ducking away from him at the last moment.
"Rose?" said Nick in concern. "Did I do something wrong.
"Yes—no—I did," said Rose. "Nick—Saturday was a mistake."
Nick looked down at her, his brown eyes soft.
It didn't feel like a mistake to me."
"Well it was," said Rose, avoiding his gaze.
"I know you like me, Rose," said Nick. "You can't tell me you don't."
"Nick, I can't."
"Malfoy," said Nick.
Rose nodded.
"He's not here, Rose."
"He will be."
"You don't know that."
Rose looked up, her eyes flashing.
"He will be."
"I like you, Rose."
"Goodnight, Nick."
"I know you like me too, Rose."
"Goodnight, Nick."
"I'm better for you than he is."
"Goodnight, Nick. Mandrake Root."
The Fat Lady swung forward and Rose stepped through the opening and made immediately for her bed, feeling even more miserable than she had to begin with.
AN: Um…*insert witty way to ask for reviews here* 3
-SQ