CHAPTER 14

JAMES

That night, Rose returned to the common room, wondering what James could want. It was only around 9:30, and she knew he wouldn't talk in front of everyone. He wasn't even in the common room. So she waited, doing her homework and when that was done, reading one of their library books about wizarding cults. It was boring her when it wasn't scaring her half to death, and she was close to falling asleep when a light went on in the corner. She looked up, and James stood at the bottom of the stairs to the boys' dormitory. "Hi, James," she said, sitting up and putting her book back in her bag. "I would have been asleep in five more minutes."

"It's only 12:30," he said.

"I'm eleven!" she said defensively. He shrugged and sat down on the couch across from hers. "What do you want to talk to me about?"

"I want to know what's going on," he said. "Al refuses to tell me, I'm not going to go to Malfoy, and that leaves you."

She sighed. "You heard about the Order at the library."

"I don't mean that," he said. "I mean how you and Scorpius knew Al was drowning."

Rose stiffened. She remembered what Aunt Lyra had said—that the connection was dangerous—and she just had a feeling she shouldn't tell anyone. But… James already knew about most of it anyway. She hesitated before saying, "It started the first day of school… we could all… not always, but sometimes, like when hands would touch or when someone was falling asleep… all three of us… well, it wasn't Al at first, it started with him on Halloween…"

"Spit it out, Rosie."

She sighed. "We… can see each other's thoughts, or memories, or what's happening to the others."

James blinked. "You're all psychic but only to each other?"

Rose nodded. He sat there, silent for a few seconds before grinning. "That's awesome! I hope you're making good use of it."

"It's dangerous, James! Lyra told us!"

"Wait, that's why she talked to you two in private?" Rose nodded. "I thought she was just… well I didn't know what she said, but I wasn't thinking that."

"Yeah, well, now you know. Can I go now?"

"No," James said. Rose sighed. "Does Malfoy fancy you?"

Rose started and stared at James, convinced he had lost his mind. "God, no! Oh my God, I'm going to be sick!"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes James I'm pretty bloody sure! I'm in his head after all!" But when she thought about it… that memory of the library… no, he couldn't have been older than six. He didn't… she didn't want to think about it. "I'm going to bed," she announced, and stormed up the stairs.

"Rosie, wait!" he called after her, but she ran into her dorm and slammed the door. The next day, she made a very big point of trying to avoid James, but he found her at lunch that day. "Rosie, come on, I'm sorry," he said.

"You'd better be! Besides, I'm eleven! I don't want him to fancy me! And Dad would murder me!" she insisted.

"What's this about?" Min asked, sitting down eagerly next to James, across from Rose. "Who fancies you?"

"Nobody!" Rose said firmly.

"Well, I thought Malfoy…" James said, and Min grinned.

"Can you imagine? Granddad would have a stroke."

"It's not an issue, can we drop it?" Rose asked, her ears quickly turning red.

"All right, fine," James said. "Rosie, can I talk to you outside?"

Min pouted. "You lot are no fun," she announced, before getting up to go sit with Al and Ariana at the other end of the table. Rose followed James until what he thought to be a safe distance away from the Hall and said, "I saw something last night while I was waiting for the common room to be empty. I took Al's Cloak, went for a walk. While I was out, I saw a light on in Orion's office and Scorpius walked in a few seconds later. He didn't see me, but he seemed to walk quickly out and a few minutes later, the light went off. Just thought you'd want to know."

Rose was shocked and couldn't speak for a minute until she managed to whisper, "Yeah… thanks." James went back to the table without another word and Rose walked quickly to the Slytherin table. Lexa sneered at her as she walked by but to Rose's relief, Scorpius wasn't sitting with her. He was further along down the table with a few brutish-looking boys, who glared at her as she got close. Scorpius looked up at her and smiled. "Hey, Weasley. What're you…"

"Come with me," she said shortly, not sure whether the innocent face was an act. If he was one of them, she'd never forgive herself for defending him all this time. He followed her, looking a little anxious, and when she stopped outside the door, he looked at her questioningly. They stood in silence for a second before she burst out, "Were you with Orion last night?"

His eyes widened and he stuttered for a second, starting to say no. "Scorp, please," she said quietly. "Don't lie."

He paused for a second, then said, "Yes, but I'm not with him, Rose, you have to believe me."

"Why should I?" she asked. "James saw you."

"Now you're believing him?" he asked. "Over me?"

"I know he doesn't have the best track record with you, but he's still my family, Scorpius. Tell me what's going on."

He paused again before saying, "He asked me if I had any leanings towards Parseltongue. I told him no. He looked disappointed and told me to go back to my room. I left as quickly as possible. That's all I know."

She hesitated. She wanted nothing more but to believe him, and James did say he had left quickly. She sighed. "I want to believe you, Scorp…wait," she suddenly said, having an idea. "Can you show me?"

He bit his lip before nodding. "Sure." He grabbed her hand and she was suddenly in the connection again. She saw the scene he had described play out, and she was so relieved. She had been so worried, so ready to feel betrayed.

"Thank God," she said. "Okay. Good. But we know for sure he's recruiting for the Order now. That's good. We should go to McGonagall."

"I don't know, Rosie, we don't have that much evidence," Scorpius said uneasily.

She sighed. It was true. "Fine. We'll wait for a while. I just… I don't want anyone to get hurt."

"We can keep an eye out, make sure all the Slytherins he's been recruiting keep coming to classes in one piece."

"Okay. See you in class." The two went back to their own tables.

"Well?" James asked as Rose sat back down across from him.

"Scorpius isn't with them."

"You're sure?"

"He showed me the memory," she said, nodding.

James sighed in relief. "Good. I was actually starting to not mind him as much." Rose raised her eyebrows, shocked and impressed. "Don't look at me like that. Just eat," James said defensively, looking very self-conscious. Rose smiled and finished her meal.