A/N: Well... lets get on with it shall we? Thanks for the reviews!
DISCLAIMER: Only the plot.
Chapter Twenty-five: Just Talking
"I didn't see him all night. He was locked in his room saying he had a headache," said Rose to Lily while Hugo rolled his eyes thinking Rose didn't see, "Okay... Hugo why are you so against Scorpius?"
"Just think Rose – had you and him not happened none of that crap would have happened to you," said Hugo.
Rose sighed and walked away. She did not want to get into the same old argument again.
Hugo hurried after her with Lily tailing along unsure she wanted to witness the sister and brother blow up.
"Its' the truth!"
"Chase was the one who went crazy!" retorted Rose spinning around to face Hugo, "Scorpius wanted to protect me! He came looking for me when YOU assumed I was back with Chase!"
"He left you on your own!"
"WE JUST GOT OUR MEMORIES BACK!" exploded Rose, "WE WERE BOTH OVERLOADED WITH A HEAP OF THINGS NEITHER OF US WERE EXPECTING! WHO ARE YOU REALLY MAD AT HUGO? ME OR YOURSELF? PICK A PERSON BUT NOT SCORPIUS! HE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS!"
"YOU! YOU!" he shot back, "AND ME!"
"Why?" asked Rose.
"You toyed with Chase yet you had to have Scorpius, didn't you? You could have told me you were scared of Chase though... I'm your brother, Rose! Your brother!"
"It was my mess."
"So? I could have protected you, but I walked away when I saw you with him... what was I thinking?" said Hugo looking devastated, "You nearly died and I just... I just blamed him because he seemed the easiest target."
Rose walked over to Hugo and hugged him, "No one is at fault... don't hate yourself."
Hugo stepped back and shook his head, "You really are okay, huh?"
"Yeah I am," smiled Rose, "Shocking, huh?"
"And you are truly happy with Scorpius?"
Rose smiled, "Very much so."
Hugo nodded and Lily ventured closer to them looking at the two slightly stunned.
"So that is a blow up argument between you two?" she asked, "No wands pulled out or the silent treatment for hours on end?"
"Pretty much," nodded Rose with a smile to Hugo, "Why?"
"When Al, James and I argue it pretty much comes down to a duel much to Mum's displeasure."
"I can just imagine that. All three of you share that hot headed syndrome," teased Rose with a playful nudge into Lily's side.
"We do not!"
"There you go," said Hugo gesturing to Lily who merely scowled in silence before grinning.
"Rose!"
Rose spun around stopping midway down a staircase. Scorpius quickly came down the stairs to her looking breathless.
"You left without a word," he said with a frown.
"I thought you were still sleeping," said Rose with a shrug, "How are you feeling?"
"Feeling? Oh! Fine... yeah sleep did me good," he nodded, "So listen... I was thinking we could grab a bit of food and head outside to the lake to eat. How does that sound?"
"Great," smiled Rose entwining her fingers with Scorpius as they continued down the stairs behind Hugo and Lily, "Are you feeling guilty?"
"Just a tad. I did sort of stand you up last night."
"I had studies to catch up on anyway," shrugged Rose, "I probably would have spent the night stressing over that rather than being good company."
They made their way to the Great Hall and Rose grabbed a napkin along with a blueberry muffin and a slice of toast with strawberry jam on it. Meeting Scorpius at the doorway they headed out hand in hand.
"Out for a morning date, are we?"
Rose looked over towards the staircase to see a smirking Nancy Logan looking at Scorpius like she knew something special that Rose didn't.
"Don't forget, we have a date today Scorpius," she said before striding away into the Great Hall.
"A date?" said Rose pulling her hand from Scorpius as they exited the castle.
"Not a date," sighed Scorpius rubbing his face, "Nancy is just... being Nancy. She exists to purely cause crap."
"If it's not a date what is it then?"
They stopped walking with Scorpius turning slowly to face Rose. Rose could see the stressed expression and looked at him worriedly.
"Scorpius, what is it?"
"Look... you have to trust me... do you trust me, Rose?"
"Yes," answered Rose without any hesitation, "What's going on?"
"Look, I can't tell you – not yet until I deal with it... Nancy... if she says anything to you, please don't believe her, believe me. You know I love you and would never hurt you, okay?"
Rose stepped back from Scorpius and looked at him with a slight confused frown, "I don't understand... why can't you tell me?"
"It involves someone else... someone who I don't want to get hurt either."
"Another girl?"
Scorpius nodded and Rose gave a slow nod of her own.
"How bad is it?" she asked slowly.
"Incriminating."
"For you?"
Scorpius nodded. Rose sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. She looked away from Scorpius and out towards where the cold lake was. Trust him. She did and he had asked her too but her need to know what was going on was strong, willing her to find Nancy and demand to know what was going on herself. Rose looked at Scorpius and reached her hand out to his.
"I trust you," she said calmly, "But I want to know what is going on as soon as you can tell me. Promise?"
"I promise," he nodded stepping closer and kissing her on the lips, "Shall we eat?"
"What is on your mind? You look distracted," said Alice peering at Rose as they walked along the corridor to their Transfiguration class.
"It's nothing," muttered Rose turning her head away from Alice as she peered at a group of Slytherin girls outside one of the bathrooms.
Nancy was amongst them talking and laughing the loudest, flipping her hair about and jutting out her hips with every movement she made.
"What a tart," said Rose out loud.
"Rose!" exclaimed Alice as Nancy looked over at her with a glare.
"I may be a tart," retorted Nancy, "But at least I'm not the one with the cheating boyfriend."
"What?" exclaimed Rose stopping in her tracks, facing Nancy, "I doubt Scorpius would cheat on me."
"Oh really?" smirked Nancy reaching down to her bag and extracting two photo's, "Perhaps you should look at these then."
Rose snatched them from her and looked at the first one. Scorpius was sitting on one of the lounges in their tower, his head leant back looking out of it with Nancy on his lap, her blouse half unbuttoned. The second showed Scorpius with his eyes shut as Nancy half straddled him. Rose could feel her heart beating faster and faster but stopped her fingers from tearing at the photos, however she did grab Nancy by her arm and shoved her back into a little empty alcove with Alice hurrying behind Rose looking panicked. Nancy's friends scattered instantly not bothering to stop Rose from doing whatever came next.
"You really have misjudged how much I trust Scorpius," said Rose backing Nancy into a corner, "He did nothing but prove his loyalty to me when I went through much more crap then you can ever imagine! I don't know what you think you are going to get out of all this... blackmail I assume... but I can assure you, you will not suddenly come between Scorpius and I."
"He slept with me," said Nancy determinedly.
"These are all posed!" cried Rose nearly laughing, "Look at them! You are watching the damn camera in every shot while Scorpius is nearly asleep! If you two were supposed to be getting down and dirty – why is my boyfriend still fully dressed and you are the only one with garments missing? Hmm?"
Nancy opened and closed her mouth like a fish and in the end shrugged.
"If you don't want me to take action against you – I am Head Girl remember – I would suggest you find Scorpius and put an end to all this, now," said Rose seriously, "Get it?"
"B-but that's blackmail."
"Not nice when the tables are turned, huh?"
Nancy shook her head and left in a hurry. Rose turned around and saw Alice.
"I know what-" started Rose but Alice silenced her with a raised hand.
"Never in my life have I seen you act like that," said Alice, "But... I have to say you are impressive. No wonder your mother wants you to be a lawyer. Perhaps she has seen that ability in you all along."
"To what?"
"Make the guilty squirm and crap themselves," chuckled Alice as they left the alcove for Transfiguration, "So you really believe Scorpius is innocent?"
"Alice look at the pictures," sighed Rose handing them to her, "But don't worry. I'll make Scorpius squirm. Only because he could have told me the truth and I would have understood."
Rose poked the fire with the fire poker before settling back onto the lounge. Sitting on the coffee table were the photos turned over so Scorpius wouldn't spot it when he came in. Rose opened her Charms text book and flipped to the chapter they had been assigned to revise and write an essay on. Rose got her quill ready to take down notes to refer to for her essay.
As she was about to read the third page the entry door opened with Scorpius walking in looking exhausted from his Quidditch training. His team would have their semi final match against Ravenclaw, with Gryffindor already in the final.
"Long training session?" asked Rose not looking up from her book.
"Yeah... I work them hard," nodded Scorpius falling onto the lounge opposite Rose.
Rose could feel him watching her but kept focused on taking down her notes, "How was your day?"
"It was... good."
"That's good then."
"Yours?"
"Interesting," replied Rose, "From all the stuff I learnt."
"Oh yeah... like... like what?"
"Oh you know... new charms... different aspects of transfiguration and whatnot. That sort of stuff."
"Oh... nothing... nothing else?"
"What else could there be?" asked Rose with a nonchalant tone.
"Nothing."
"Oh wait," said Rose closing her book and turning her body towards the coffee table, "There was this."
She reached out to the photos and turned them over so they faced Scorpius. She looked at Scorpius and could see the colour vanishing from his face.
"Well?" said Rose calmly enjoying see him try to find something to say.
"Rose... it... err... it isn't as bad as it looks – honest. I was so plastered, I mean look at me! Do I look like I could even remember how to unbutton her blouse?"
Rose couldn't hold her grin back any more and looked at him smiling, "I know. I gather Nancy came and spoke to you then?"
"Yes," he said looking stunned, "You made her?"
Rose sighed and explained it all to him with Scorpius looking at her wide eyed until she finished with a shrug.
"I know how to play it nasty," said Rose.
"So... you had me crapping my pants just then... to play nasty?" asked Scorpius sitting forward.
"That and to teach you a lesson to not hide things from me when you know I'll find out eventually," said Rose seriously, "I would have believed you Scorpius... I mean any person with eyes could tell that these are all set up shots... god I don't know what Nancy was going to get out of it."
"Money."
"Money?"
"Yeah... her family are bankrupt."
"And you mentioned this morning... another person is involved?"
Scorpius sighed, "I can't say."
"What? Scorpius-"
"Rose – don't... I just can't okay? This is something I am forbidden to tell anyone – even the person it affects!" said Scorpius standing and storming into the bathroom.
Rose looked at the closed bathroom door, half tempted to go in there and bug Scorpius until he gave in. The door flew open with Scorpius coming out with his shirt missing.
"It's not easy keeping it quiet either," he said, "I want to be able to tell you and... and the other person but my father would kill me if I did. All I can say is you will know soon enough. My father is seeing to it that those involved finally get everything out of the closet!"
"Okay," said Rose quietly, "Okay... I understand."
"Good."
Rose just nodded and looked away thinking Scorpius would leave for the bathroom again. Instead he was suddenly kneeling down before her and leaning closer before his lips had captured hers. Rose leaned back onto the lounge as Scorpius' hands slid down the sides of her body. The passion seemed to be intensifying between with Rose clutching at Scorpius, wanting him closer to her. Suddenly he lifted her up off the lounge breaking away the kiss.
"Only if you want too," he said in a husky voice.
Rose looked at him, and trailed one hand down the side of his face, "I love you."
"I love you too," he said softly, "But do you... are you-"
"Ready?" said Rose before nodding, "I am."
Rose gave a start as she woke, shocked by the warm feeling beside her. She propped herself up on her elbows and looked beside her seeing Scorpius still sound asleep in her bed. Falling back onto her pillows she let out a sigh and felt a smile creeping onto her face.
In her head she kept on saying 'Oh my Merlin' over and over. Other than that she didn't know what to think or say. Words couldn't describe how... wonderful the night had been.
With a glance at her clock she knew they had to get a move on for breakfast and the day's lessons. Rose leaned over the edge of her bed and grabbed her nightgown that hadn't even been worn the night before. She slipped it on and slid out of her bed causing Scorpius to roll over and face her with a smile.
"Are you always so discreet in the morning?" he asked in a sleepy voice.
"Well you are the first person I've shared a bed with," replied Rose opening her wardrobe to find a bra, underwear and a fresh uniform, "Besides, we need to get a hurry on. I'm starving and we have classes."
"I would rather stay here with you all day, you know."
Rose smiled and looked at Scorpius, "Unfortunately it would look bad for the Head Girl to suddenly vanish along with her boyfriend – it would cause a few eyebrows to raise and Lavender would rock up demanding to know what is going on."
"Hmm... that is true," sighed Scorpius sitting up and stretching.
Rose looked at him a small smile on her face. She shook her head and cleared her throat, "I'm going to have a shower."
"Can I join?" grinned Scorpius cheekily.
"If you did, I'd only lose my mind."
Rose sat down beside Lily and grabbed some toast and poached eggs. She broke the yoke, letting it spill all over the toast before cutting into it with her knife and fork.
"So... you are late," said Lily casually, "And I couldn't help noticing that Scorpius was also."
"We stayed up late talking," shrugged Rose.
"Oh okay," said Lily with a frown, "That all?"
"That's all... could you please pass me the orange juice?"
"Now... the spell really is quiet simple," said Flitwick, "But I want you all to focus on saying it in your mind – not out loud. I want to challenge you all."
Rose peered at the book before her as the classroom door opened. She looked up with interest along with the rest of the Advanced Charms class. A forth year student handed a note to Flitwick and left without a word. The Professor opened it and looked up at Rose.
"Miss Weasley, you are needed in the library," he said.
Rose packed her bag quickly and took the note from the Professor. She left the room reading the note and seeing the writing was Lavenders. Rose frowned wondering is the spell had somehow sent a trigger to alert Lavender of her intimate encounter with Scorpius. She couldn't think of how a spell could be made to let that happen. It was unheard of, but then no one really knew the full extent of the Betrothal Spell.
Entering the Library Rose was directed to where Lavender was waiting with Scorpius along with some men in the Law Board official robes.
"Glad you could make it Rose," smiled Lavender gesturing for her to sit down with the rest of them.
"I got here as quick as I could," said Rose unable to hide her nerves, "What is this about?"
"We just want to review the progress made over the past few months," said Lavender, "As we are considering using the betrothal to test on another couple."
"What?" exclaimed Scorpius while Rose looked at them stunned.
"We cannot declare the law a success with just one couple," said Lavender as if it made all the sense in the world, "Therefore we are looking over your progress as a couple and will decide from there. We just need to ask you both a few questions."
Rose glanced at Scorpius and saw he had set his expression to stone. Neither of them wanted any other people to have to go through what they had with the betrothal, even if it had led them to falling in love.
"How long did it take for you both to grow a mutual bond?" asked Lavender.
"You have all that on record," said Scorpius before Rose could even count the weeks.
Lavender gave him a tight smile, "In your own words."
"At least six weeks," sighed Rose not even bothering to meet Scorpius' eye.
"Right... what do you feel for each other now?"
"I would say that is none of your business," retorted Scorpius.
"I would say it is," replied Lavender.
Rose let out a sigh, "Have you got a new couple already picked?"
"That is not of your concern," said Lavender.
"Then neither are our feelings," snapped Rose standing up, "With that said, I think this meeting is over. I have a Charms lesson to get too."
Rose stood, pulling Scorpius up by his hand. The pair turned and left, ignoring the mutters and Lavender trying to calm down the officials with her. Once out of the library Scorpius pulled Rose towards him, kissing her fully on the lips.
"You my dear have definitely gained some spunk about you," he said grinning at her.
Rose grinned and shrugged, "Just something I picked up from a certain Slytherin."
"Oh... I'll have to meet this fellow. I don't want him completely rubbing off on you now."
"Oh but she intends to make sure he picks up some of her traits as well, you know?"
"Is that so?"
Rose laughed and kissed Scorpius again, "Come on, class can't wait."
"I don't suppose you could pick up my trait of skipping a class now and then, could you?"
A/N: So... the Ministry is planning another couple but Rose and Scorpius won't co-operate. What does this mean for them? What about Scorpius and the secret he knows about Melena? When will she find out and how will affect her and her relationship with Albus? Review to find out!
Until next time...
Love yas!
Love Coz!