So my interpretation of things wasn't exactly loved, there were definitely mixed reviews. So I'm sorry to those of you who don't believe it's possible - but it's Hogwarts and it's magical and anything can happen, in my eyes! And, it's MY little fanfic sooooo... :) teehee! Again, sorry if you didn't like it - but it's not something crucial to the plot or something that's going to come up again - so no worries! It was just a way for me to explain Scorpius' past and set up what his job is going to be in the future. Accept the room, don't accept the room...it's no matter anymore! :) So hopefully this chapter will be better than the last, but seriously, how could it get any better than their first time together? I'll just have to make it more dramatic from here on out - and alas, I'm going to work on wrapping the story up. So yes, to those reviewers who have been SO faithful over the last year a half - this fic will be done soon! Maybe 3 or 4 more chapters and THAT'S IT! So...any ideas for my next fic? :) Teehee! Read and review, my lovelies! And THANK YOU SOOOOOOOO MUCH TO EVERYONE WHO REVIEWS! I truly cannot believe how many reviews this story has gotten! It makes me wanna tear up and just *squee!*
Scorpius sat alone in the Slytherin common room in the wee hours of the morning. After hours of making love, he and Rose finally decided to call it a night. She went to her room, and he went to his. But that didn't mean he was going to be able to sleep.
Hell no, sleep was not happening for him.
Instead, he sat at a desk under the dim lamplight and proceeded to write his father a lengthy letter. Merlin knows how he was able to keep his mind focused on something other than Rose's lips, but he did. He knew it was time for him to leave Hogwarts - and he wasn't sure how his family was going to react to his revelation. Sure, they'd love for him to finish up his seventh year, but what was the use? He already knew everything they were going to teach him, and besides, he could start his career now and begin his adult life a year earlier than the rest. Which means he'd have it all together by the time the rest of his peers graduated. Scorpius would be the one with a steady job, a house to call his own, and hopefully, just hopefully he'd have Rose by his side through it all. A good woman to love, and to hold...
For better or for worse? Merlins vagina, he was becoming a fucking love-sick bastard.
He folded up the letter neatly and tucked it into an envelope. Scorpius reached over to the Slytherin-green wax candle and dribbled some onto the parchment. He sealed it with his crested ring, no doubt a gift given to him his first year of Hogwarts by his father. It had their very own Malfoy Crest imprinted into it. It became habit for Scorpius to seal his letters with the ring insignia and green wax. He supposed that was something that would never change, even when the rest of his life was coming apart at the seams around him.
His next letter was to the Headmaster.
And the one after that was going to be his hardest letter of all. To Rose.
How would she think of him after all that was going to happen within the next few days? He hadn't planned on their little meeting tonight going the way it did. He really did just want to talk to her. And well, he did talk to her but that led to more...and he wasn't complaining about it. It had been the most mind-blowing sex he'd ever had. On any other night he probably would've been passed out in his bed from lack of energy.
But not tonight. There was just too much to do before he left the school. Permanently.
FAST FORWARD TO FRIDAY.
This had to be what hell was like.
Nothing could get much worse than this frozen moment in time - Scorpius tied up to the Headmasters chair in the Great Hall, Anna in a dominatrix outfit standing before him, Rose's mouth agape with a horrified look in her eyes, the Headmaster with folded arms across her chest, and alas, Mr. Ron Weasley himself.
This was not his plan. This was not how this was supposed to go down - how could it have all gone wrong?
First of all, Scorpius was not supposed to be tied to a chair, Rose was not supposed to show up. He was literally caught with his pants around his ankles and no hands to pull them up and get himself out of this with. His hands were tied behind his back, both literally and metaphorically.
"In my office. Both of you." The Headmaster huffed as she spun around and all but jogged in the opposite direction. A Professor put her arm around Rose and led her from the Great Hall before Scorpius could open his mouth and say anything to her. Not a few seconds had passed and two other teachers rounded the corner, no doubt to escort the guilty-parties to the Headmaster's office.
Talk about a walk of shame.
But this part...this part was in his plan. Scorpius just had to figure out how the hell to win Rose back after all this chaos and catastrophe. He just hoped she read his letter before she saw all of this. Then she would understand what was going on.
Well...mostly. Nobody could fully understand why he would voluntarily get himself expelled.
Anna was crying as they were led to the Headmaster's office. Scorpius wanted to reach out and slap her, but he would never hit a woman. Which is why he resorted to ruining her life instead.
Once inside the Headmasters office, Scorpius and Anna were both ordered to take a seat. He complied, crossing his arms across his chest in a nonchalant way. Anna was still sobbing and the sound was quickly forcing him to move from slight-pity to just plain-annoyed.
"What...on earth, were you two doing?" The Headmaster obviously hadn't dealt with any situations like this, because she had no idea how to even approach the subject of bondage in the Great Hall.
Anna began to cry harder, her shoulders shaking with each sob as she buried her face in her hands.
Scorpius rolled his eyes.
"We didn't expect to be caught." Scorpius replied easily.
The Headmaster paused.
"Clearly." She pursed her lips together before continuing, "Do you have an explanation that would make me not expel you both immediately?"
"An explanation..." Scorpius feigned thought, "Nope. I think it was pretty obvious what we were about to do. Does that sort of action warrant us to be expelled? Or do we get a slap on the wrist?"
"I'm afraid a slap on the wrist would only please you." The Headmaster replied curtly.
"A slap anywhere would probably please me." Scorpius only smiled smugly. The Headmaster's chin dropped slightly and she was forced to look away out of shock. Exactly what Scorpius was going for. The shock effect.
"Anna, do you have anything to say?" The Headmaster quickly turned her attention towards the sobbing teenager.
"I-I-He...He ma-ma-made me do it!" Anna only sobbed harder, warranting an eye-roll from Scorpius.
"I suppose if I told you to feed yourself to a Horntail Dragon, you'd do so." Scorpius replied swiftly and curtly.
"Mr. Malfoy, now is not the time for your smart remarks." The Headmaster scolded and hung her head in her hands for the briefest of moments.
"Do tell me when the appropriate time for smart remarks would be, Headmaster." He bowed his head ever-so-slightly, clearly a mocking gesture.
The Headmaster only cleared her throat, still at a loss for words at this point, and unsure where to take things next.
Scorpius sighed deeply, rearranged himself in his chair and fixed his robes to look more presentable.
"Shouldn't we be receiving seperate trials, Headmaster? Both of us should be interviewed seperately, and receive seperate punishments, based on the evidence against us."
"Right. Seperate..." The Headmaster paused, "We'll bring in the Witness."
Scorpius stiffened. The Witness, no doubt it was Rose.
Fuck.
"Anna, stand outside until I call upon you." The Headmaster waved her hand and Anna left the room in hysterics.
In Anna's place, came Rose. The air in the room seemed to vanish when Scorpius laid his eyes on her. He couldn't breathe, couldn't hardly think. This was a huge wrench in his plan.
Rose wouldn't even look at him as she took a seat next to him, in front of the Headmasters grand desk.
"Well, Scorpius, what do you have to say?" The Headmaster started.
It took a moment for Scorpius to find the air and take a breath.
"I was clearly tied down. Anna called me to the Great Hall to have a...talk, and she took advantage of the situation and before I knew it, she had me tied with ropes to the chair, unable to move or defend myself." Scorpius looked smug.
It was Rose's turn to roll her eyes.
"Headmaster, Mr. Malfoy has enough sense not to allow himself to be 'taken advantage of', as he claims. We both know his rare ability to protect himself in dangerous situations, and...well, we just know his capabilities and they far surpass the base knowledge Anna holds. I highly doubt she would have the sense or the intelligence to have the upper-hand over Mr. Malfoy."
Rose cut him a glaring look as Scorpius sat there in shock.
Was she...was she trying to get him expelled?
"Tell me what you saw, Rose. Details, please." The Headmaster urged gently.
"I was going to see if there were any leftovers so that I could have a midnight snack. The House Elves usually keep me a plate, since it is ritual for me to grab a bite before bed." Rose paused and cut Malfoy a horrid glare, "And that's when I saw them. Anna, dressed in her...whatever-you-want-to-call-that-abomination-of-an-outfit. And Scorpius, clearly tied and gagged to your chair, Headmaster. I had only been there but seconds before one of the Professors also approached and saw what was going on. An action such as theirs, warrants nothing short of being expelled"
"I happen to agree with Ms. Weasley." The Headmaster sighed, "We have two options at this point. One, dismiss you from Hogwarts quietly and permantly after allowing you to take your NEWTS, in a weeks time. But you will have to be out of Hogwarts by tomorrow evening. Or two, hold a lengthy trial based on the evidence compiled against you. It will be a very public ordeal, if you choose to have a trial. Either way, Mr. Malfoy, I do have to admit that you will no longer be a student here at Hogwarts. I am greatly...surprised, at your actions. And quite frankly, very upset with you. You alone, were one of the most promising students in your year." She sighed again and leaned foward on her elbows, "Which will it be? Option one, or two?"
"Headmaster, it has been a pleasure to be a part of this school." Scorpius nodded with a smile, "And I appreciate the anonymity of the situation. It would be...a shame, to allow something like this to turn public."
Scorpius had gotten what he wanted. With the help of Rose. Not that he needed it, but it solidified the Headmasters decision to hear it from Rose as well.
"Dismissed, Mr. Malfoy." The Headmaster only waved her hand and he stood up to leave, pausing to make eye contact with a furious Rose. There was nothing more to be said between them at this particular moment in time. She was clearly needed to help make the decision for Anna.
Scorpius headed to his common room to gather his belongings. In the morning, he would be out of here permanently.
"What's got you packing, Scor?" Nott was leaning against the bedframe, standing over Scorpius who was clearly unamused.
"I'm leaving." Was his only reply to his life-long friend.
"Leaving? What do you mean, leaving?" Nott asked.
"Leaving. As in going away. Moving. I'm quite sure you understand the meaning of leaving." Scorpius muttered as he shoved some of his books into his trunk.
This warranted a long pause from Nott.
"Moving, you say?" The boy looked somewhat smug. Scorpius had no doubt that he was smiling inside, because the absence of Scorpius would mean that Nott himself, would be the next biggest thing in 6th year. Or perhaps the school.
"Yes, Nott. Moving. I'm leaving Hogwarts permanently. Don't celebrate, or anything." Scorpius rolled his eyes as he stood and pushed past the smug-looking boy to gather some more of his belongings from his desk.
"Why."
"Fuck, Nott. Why are you asking so many damned questions?" Scorpius pushed past him once again and Nott moved to another bedpost and leaned against it, out of the way.
"Because you're leaving Hogwarts. Nobody does that without a serious offense or reason. Do divulge." Nott rubbed his chin with a grin.
"You really want to know?" Scorpius was a pretty good actor, he did have to admit that to himself. This was all part of his lecherous plan to destroy Anna.
"Of-fucking-course."
"The Headmaster caught Anna and I engaging in bondage activities. In the Great Hall. In the Headmasters chair." Scorpius grinned widely.
"Ah! I see!" Nott laughed loudly and clapped his hands together one time. "And what of Anna?"
"No doubt she'll be expelled as well."
"What of graduation?"
"We are able to take our NEWTS next week and depending on the scores we recieve...well, we'll either get the marks or we won't."
"I have no doubt you will, brother." Nott took a few steps forward and clapped Scorpius on the shoulder and smiled genuinely. "Your presence will be sorely missed."
"I doubt that." Scorpius chuckled.
"Don't be a git and make sure to write me." Nott squeezed his shoulder and went back to leaning on the bedframe.
"Please, Nott. You know we'll be seeing each other at just about every holiday and family gathering. You're not rid of me that easily." Scorpius grinned and shoved a pile of shirts into his trunk nice and neat.
"I do have a question for you, though." Nott chewed his bottom lip carefully, "What of you and the Weasley girl?"
"Didn't we already have this conversation?" Scorpius wasn't ready to tread there. Not now. Possibly not ever, with this snake of a friend.
"And you lied to me. You said there was nothing between you two."
"What do you mean." It was more of a statement than a question. A warning.
"I see the way she glances at you. I've seen the subtle signs between you two. The harmless touching of hands as you pass each other in the halls, pretending it was just an accident." Nott moved like a snake around the bed frame and further from Scorpius, "I've seen the way you watch her, in the sunlight, from across the courtyard. Nothing escapes me, Scorpius. Nothing."
"Your tongue escapes you." Scorpius warned with his tone. "And if you continue to see what isn't there, I will have to ruin you as well."
"As you did Anna?"
"Yes."
"Smart plan. Because you know Anna won't pass the NEWTS. She doesn't hold the knowledge that you do. The practice that you do." Nott stood and stared Scorpius in the eyes, cold and hard. "But I do. So don't you ever threaten me again."
"Find your point, Nott." Scorpius wasn't backing down.
"My point is, that a Malfoy and a Weasley will never work. And you will never be allowed in public together. You will be ruined by your relationship with her, if you pursue one. You and I both know this to be true. So...I have a proposition for you."
"Find your point, quickly, Nott." Scorpius knew all of this to be true, but that wasn't part of his long-term thinking. Perhaps he was consumed by the rainbows-and-butterflies surrounding their love-making and this completely new feeling he was experiencing with her.
"A Nott and a Weasley, would be accepted, however. It would be a smart match, cresting the bridge created between the 'good' wizarding families, and the 'bad' wizarding families." Nott motioned to the two of them, clearly they were seen as 'bad' wizarding families. Malfoy probably was the most notorious of them all.
"I fail to see your proposition." The thought of Nott and Rose together was beyond infuriating, and that the boy would actually bring it up to Scorpius was shocking to even him. He had even stopped packing to listen to the outlandish ideas he was spewing out.
"She and I engage to be married once we graduate Hogwarts next year. Of course it would be out of convenience only. I keep my mouth shut about your little affair together for fifty-percent of your business income. We can even allow her to 'rent' your upstairs loft apartment and you two can continue your precious affair while I collect your income and bridge the gap in the wizarding world." Nott crossed his arms across his chest and Scorpius remained silent.
Fuming.
"You have thought long and hard about this, haven't you?" Scorpius mumbled through gritted teeth.
"Very."
"And that's the best you can come up with?" Scorpius let out a loud laugh and clapped his hands. "Bravo, Nott. You have proved to be much less intelligent than I previously thought. And have also created an enemy in me. And that is the last thing you want."
Nott stood there, unwavering, unafraid, and obviously not backing down.
"I can ruin you just as easily, Malfoy. Do not test me."
"Then don't test me." Scorpius had crossed the room in a few short strides and was now nose to nose with the young man. Both of equal height and stature, both with cold, calculating eyes piercing into one another.
This was going to end badly.
"I get the marriage and fifty-percent of the income from your store. You get to keep your store, and you get the girl anyway. I fail to see the problem."
"She is not something to be bought and sold. To be shared. To 'bridge the gap' between wizarding worlds. She deserves much better than what a snake like you could provide her." Scorpius hissed, "You are a failure in everything you do, Nott. And you have proved that by trying to manipulate me and steal my business money. Simply becuase you cannot be successful enough to provide for a family on your own."
"I don't have to, when I can manipulate situations and still be rich and powerful." Nott hissed back.
"You've tried to manipulate the wrong person. A Malfoy?" Scorpius chuckled coldly, "We far surpass you in everything, Nott."
"I have already written a letter to your father." Nott smiled wickedly, forcing Scorpius to take a step back and blink. "Describing in detail just how absurd your fantasies for the simple Weasley have become. That you have even thought about creating a life for the two of you outside these walls. On top of it all, I'm sure he won't take lightly the news that you have been expelled."
"My father won't care." Scorpius lied straight-faced. "Nor will Rose accept your marriage proposal. What, you think all the stars are going to align and you'll get everything you want? It'll all just fall into place? You're daft."
"I'm sure Rose would never want to be with someone who gets expelled from Hogwarts. What good are you now?" Nott looked smug, "We shall see who she prefers."
"We shall." Scorpius refrained from hauling off and punching Nott square in the jaw and hiding him in a closet. A permanently locked, closet.
"Have a good trip." Nott laughed lightly and exited the room not a moment too soon.
Otherwise, Scorpius would have had to kill him.
And wouldn't that be a shame to bloody his pristine robes.
A few weeks had passed since Scorpius had seen or talked to Rose. His father had yet to talk to him as well. Once he received the news that Scorpius had been expelled...
Scorpius didn't want to imagine what the house had looked like.
Instead, Scorpius sat alone in his loft apartment, above the store that would soon become his livelihood. He had passed his NEWTS with highest marks, of course. Anna did not fare as well, and was currently residing in her parents' house, under strict supervision and unable to leave home.
Serves her right for trying to double-cross Scorpius and mess up his relationship with Rose.
He hoped Anna was a warning for anyone who dared to cross him.
Especially Nott.
Scorpius had planned on Rose at least talking to him after all was said and done, and now...with her finding him in the middle of it all, he was sure she was never going to speak to him again. And yet he did all of this for her. So they could be together.
And his delicately and meticulously laid out plan had failed, all because she had showed up that fateful night.
He had written her a few letters but none of them were returned. Not a word was breathed to him about her. He was utterly alone, in his little loft apartment.
He had spent the last two weeks decorating it to his liking. Dark colors and clean lines adorned the walls and furniture. It was mostly dark chocolates and soothing tan colors. The accent color of pillows and various vases and decorations was of course, Slytherin green.
He was quite pleased with how his spacious loft looked and felt. It was definitely a place he could call home. But where was home when there was no happiness to be held? Rose had taught him one thing. It's not about the materials you have in life, it's about how you feel. Your happiness. Your sense of belonging.
And Scorpius felt completely alone. He tried to convince himself it was okay, because he had been alone most of his life. His friends were not true friends, his family was just a cover to the world. He had always operated alone, so why should this feel any different?
Damn Rose and the way she changed him.
A knock on the door stirred him from his thoughts. Who would be visiting him this Saturday evening?
He stretched out and rippled his fingers through his blonde hair before answering the door.
"Hey."
Scorpius couldn't believe his eyes.
Rose.
"Er. Come in." He opened the door wider and glanced around the hall to make sure she was alone.
"I'm alone, don't worry." She walked inside and removed her coat, exposing a short sleeved shirt that fit her body's curves. Scorpius gulped.
"Right. Er. What are you doing here?" He managed to speak even though the oxygen seemed depleted.
"Would you like me to leave?" She arched a brow as she glanced backwards over her shoulder at him. Her hair falling delicately down her back in soft curls. Scorpius denied himself access to her and kept his hands firmly in his pockets.
"Of course not." He gulped again.
"The place is lovely." She smiled lightly as she glanced around at the meticulous surroundings. Everything was in its' place, neat and tidy.
"Er, thanks." He forced a smile, unsure of what she was doing here in the first place. She seemed to read his mind.
"Hogsmeade weekend. I snuck away." Rose looked proud of herself and Scorpius couldn't help but chuckle internally.
"I knew you had a dark side." Scorpius ushered her towards the living room and motioned for her to have a seat on the couch. She complied.
"I wanted to speak to you." Rose stated, with her hands in knots in her lap. "I was approached by...Nott."
"Sodding hell." Scorpius hissed, his eyes growing visibly darker.
"It's okay, Scorpius." She reached out and patted the space on the couch next to her, for Scorpius to sit down.
"I could sever his balls and feed them to livestock." Scorpius hissed once again. Rose chuckled lightly and rested her hand on his shoulder.
"Scorpius, I said it was okay." She laughed but then her smile faded quickly. "But..."
"But?" Scorpius arched a brow as his heart raced.
"His proposal wasn't sorely accepted, I'm afraid." She started and then pressed her finger over Scorpius' lips before he could respond rashly. "He argues a valid point. We could never truly be together, Scorpius. Not like we hoped we could be. It just...won't work."
"Yes it would. I'd make sure of it." He spoke through gritted teeth.
Rose simply shook her head and looked away.
"We both know it won't." She chewed her bottom lip, "If I were to marry you, you would be even more hated by your own kind. And I would be considered a traitor of mine. But if I were to marry someone of lesser...status, but still of the same nature, it would most definitely bridge the gap and open the doors for more marriages and eventually there wouldn't be a 'good' and 'bad' side to the wizarding world. We could change things, Scorpius."
"You mean you and Nott could change things. Not you and I. I would be your secret lover, never to be able to hold your hand or kiss you when I want to. What kind of life is that for me? It's not one. I could never marry, have children, carry on the Malfoy name." Scorpius spat as he backed away to the opposite side of the couch in a quick second. He couldn't believe she was turning on him too. This must have been what hell was like. This tearing feeling inside of him felt like hell.
"We must not act on emotion alone. If I have learned anything from you, it's that we should always have a plan. And you've yet to hear the rest of mine." Rose's eyes darkened and Scorpius knew something was wrong. This was a side of her he had not witnessed.
"Continue..."
"You hate Nott, I can see it in your eyes." Rose waited for Scorpius to nod, "And I do too, for putting us in this situation. I would have his head, Scorpius. I will comply and be a loving wife, for say, about 5 years. Long enough to make it believable. And I will still see you, just as Nott has promised we could. You and I could still be lovers. But in five years, I will be rid of him. One way or another. And we can take his fortunes, that I, as his wife, will hold. And we can start a new life, together."
Scorpius had to take in exactly what she was saying. He hadn't missed the undertone of what she was saying, or the malice in her voice.
She was talking about murdering Nott.
"You speak of things we cannot do." Scorpius spoke low and with a growl. "I hate him with just about every fiber of my being, but I refuse to stoop to that level. We must not speak of this again."
"Do you love me or not." Rose demanded with pursed lips.
"I do."
"Then what better idea do you have?"
"Merlins balls, Rose! I would have YOU! Just you! And me! Together! That's it! None of this shady business anymore. I don't care what the rest of the wizarding world thinks of us! If you want to change things, change them with something huge. Take a risk. Marry me."
What. The fuck.
Did he just propose and didn't even realize it?
He must have, because Rose looked surprisingly shocked and somewhat appalled.
Fuck. He went and fucked it all up now.
"I must return before they realize I'm gone." Rose stood quickly and gathered her coat by the front door. She slipped out without another word, and Scorpius didn't bother to look after her. He knew she left and rightly so.
When the hell had everything gotten so fucked up? How did it come to this?
Nothing in his life was simple. And now he felt as if he had lost everything. His education. His relationship with his father. His one-time-love, Rose.
He needed a drink and fast. Something strong. Very strong.