Ch. 26- Lovely Confessions

'They're trying to kill us,' Adysen declared, dropping into the armchair across the fire. Scorpius shook his head.

'Who? And how'd you get in here?'

'Rose gave me the password and told me to wait here for her,' she explained, crossing her legs at the knee and leaning her head on the back of the seat. 'And the professors! Third day of actual classes, and I've got a homework load the size of a hippogriff!'

'It is N.E.W.T. year, Ads,' Scorpius pointed out sitting on the lounge beside her. 'Where was Weasley going?'

'Some third years were fighting in the hall, so she had to take them to the hospital wing,' Adysen replied.

'Oh, what about?'

'Supposedly, one boy asked some Hufflepuff to the Hogsmeade trip who turned out to be the girlfriend of the other bloke.'

'That's mental. Were we that idiotic in third year?'

Adysen snorted. 'I wasn't, I didn't have a boyfriend until fifth year and that was Louis. You on the other hand, had to fight off every other girl with a broomstick.'

Scorpius chuckled, 'It's cause I was such a sexy, scrawny bastard.'

Adysen rolled her eyes. 'What's this I hear about a party day after tomorrow?'

'It's not a party!'

'Whatever.'

'James wants all of us to hang out; eight o'clock don't be late.' After several moments of silence, Scorpius looked up and saw Adysen was clutching a small pillow from the couch.

He quirked an eyebrow, 'What's wrong?'

Adysen shook her head, 'Oh, nothing. James you said? As in, James Potter, resident Healer?'

'Almost Healer and yes,' Scorpius stated. Adysen nodded and remained quiet.

'What is it Adysen?'

She inhaled deeply and looked at him, apprehension in her eyes, 'I can't be in the same room as him.'

'Why not?' Scorpius asked surprised.

'I just can't.'

Scorpius moved closer and peered at her anxiously. 'D-Do you fancy James, Adysen?'

She remained silent and after nearly five minutes, she nodded almost imperceptibly. Scorpius nearly gave a sigh of relief.

'James has fancied you forever, Adysen! You've got nothing to worry about!' he exclaimed, placing a hand on her knee.

Adysen shook her head, 'No, it is something to worry about!'

'Why?' Scorpius repeated exasperatedly.

'Because!' she cried jumping up. 'Because, he was there! He was there when…when Nott…did all that stuff to me.'

'Adysen, what are you getting at?'

'James isn't going to want me!' she shouted. 'Nobody would want me after what Nott did! And, it bloody sucks because I've been trying to get over my feelings for him since third year!'

'Ads,' Scorpius started but she ignored him.

'Then he had to give me that goddamn Christmas gift last year and it was fucking perfect! Now, I'm in love with him and I can't do anything because HE DOESN'T WANT ME!'

'ADYSEN!' Scorpius yelled and she paused. Her face was streaked with tears and she looked pitiful. Scorpius placed his hands on her shoulders and looked her in the eye. 'Listen to me. James does not care what Nott did to you. Well, he does but not in the sense you think. He hates that someone hurt you that way but he loves you. He loves you.'

'But how do you know?' she whispered.

'Ads, it's written all over his face. He only ever has eyes for you. He laughs at any joke you say, no matter how stupid. He defends you whenever you and I get into arguments. He hasn't dated anyone since fifth year. You're the only one he wants,' Scorpius said softly.

Adysen stayed quiet before giving him a watery smile, 'I always wondered why he laughed at my joke about the Kneazle and the Niffler.'

Scorpius chuckled and pulled her in for a hug, 'Don't worry, Ads. James fancies you a great deal and he'd most likely die of happiness if he found out you felt the same.'

'Then I guess you'd better not say a word,' she grinned pulling away. She sat on the couch and he dropped next to her, wrapping a comforting arm around her.

'In love, huh?' he smirked.

Adysen blushed, 'Yeah.'

'Who's in love with who?' Rose asked striding into the room.

'Nobody,' the two Malfoy siblings said automatically.

Rose raised an eyebrow and fell into the seat next to the couch. She dug around in her book bag for a moment before pulling out a bright green apple. She wiped it on her shirt then proceeded to take a small bite. She chewed and stared at the pair thoughtfully.

'You know,' she said after a moment. 'Incest is usually frowned upon in society, but considering you're purebloods, it's very much the norm.'

'What are you talking about, Weasley?' Scorpius demanded affronted.

She took another bite, 'Well, you were speaking about love when I came in. I asked, you both said nobody so that leaves one to assume you were speaking of yourselves. Personally, I find I could never look at Hugo-or any family member for that matter- that way. But hey, whatever floats your boat, I ain't here to judge.'

'Rose! We are not in love!' Adysen shrieked.

'Ain't? Are you illiterate?' Scorpius laughed. 'Floats your boat?'

'I am most certain that I'm not illiterate,' Rose said Vanishing her apple core. 'My grades speak for that. And yes, floats your boat, like tickles your pickle, butters your beer.'

Adysen giggled, 'I have never heard any of those. "Butters your beer", is that in reference to butterbeer?'

Rose nodded, 'Yup. Skylar used to say them all the time.'

'Hmm, I'll have to tell Steff sometime. Who's Skylar?' Adysen said.

'I lived with her and her family in California. I mentioned her brother, Jesse, to you,' Rose explained.

'Have you got any more apples, Weaselette?'

Rose turned, 'Yes, but not for you.'

'Weasley, I'm hungry, give me a damn apple.'

'Why didn't you eat dinner if you're so hungry?'

'I did but now I want a bloody apple!'

Rose sighed and upturned her bag where a plethora of apples fell onto the coffee table. Adysen's eyebrows neared her hairline as she looked at Rose.

'Why have you got a bunch of apples in your bag?' she asked in surprise.

'I found a tree out on the lawn and they were on it. I took one, cut into it and used the seeds to practice an aging charm I read about,' Rose shrugged. 'Now, I've got a shit ton of apples. They taste pretty good too.'

Scorpius leant forward and grabbed the largest one. He took an enormous bite, juice running down the corner of his mouth. He crunched happily for a moment and swallowed.

'Hate to admit it,' he said slowly. 'But, these are pretty damn good. You can charm me some apples any day, Weasley.'

'Scorpius loves green apples,' Adysen added. 'And cherries.'

'Because they're amazing!'

Rose nodded again, 'That's nice to know I guess. You can take all of them then.'

'Thanks, Weasley!' Scorpius cheered, scooping up all the apples and carrying them to his room.

'That was nice of you,' Adysen noted.

Rose shrugged, 'The world has probably stopped spinning because of it. I wasn't going to eat them anyway and I'd rather they didn't go to waste.'

'I wish you two would get along,' Adysen sighed. 'He's not a bad guy, Rosie.'

Rose scowled, 'Don't call me Rosie. Wishing we could get along is like wishing Al had enough cajones to ask out Carinna.'

Adysen laughed, 'It's cajones not CAH-JOAN-EEZE.'

Rose waved a hand, 'Whatever, you know what I meant.'

'Still, if either of you two tried to get along, it would make life soooo much better. At least Al talks to Rinna now. I'm honestly surprised you haven't murdered him yet.'

'I'm sure the Auror program wouldn't accept my application if I'm in Azkaban.'

'Rose.'

Rose sighed, 'Adysen, we've tried getting along before, remember? It didn't work.'

'What didn't work?' Scorpius asked walking back into the room.

'Nothing,' Adysen said as Rose muttered, 'Your dad's contraceptive charm.'

'Rose!' Adysen reprimanded.

'Fine,' she said stiffly. 'I'm so very sorry, Malfoy.'

'I'd be daft if I'd believed that was sincere even for a moment,' he retorted. He sat down at the table and pulled out his Transfiguration book and a roll of parchment with a self-inking quill.

'What are you doing?' Adysen called over her shoulder.

'McG's essay,' he replied shortly.

'Already? It's not due until Monday!' she exclaimed.

'Says the girl who was complaining about the obscene amount of homework we've got.'

Adysen crossed her arms and pouted, 'It is obscene. Longbottom gave us a three foot essay on the review of Devil's Snare and Venomous Tentacula , their properties, weaknesses, what's needed for the upkeep and all that other junk!'

'Yes, we know,' Rose said gently. 'We were there too, Ads.'

She stood up and sat at the seat farthest from Scorpius at the round table and Adysen sat between the two. She mindlessly pulled out her Herbology text as Rose did the same, along with her nearly complete essay.

'Well, whatever, I know one magical property of Venomous Tentacula,' Adysen said slyly.

'What's that?' Rose asked as she added extra information on the treatment of wounds caused by said plant to her already five foot essay.

'It's gone to second base with one Rose Nymphadora Weasley.'

Rose dropped her quill and hit Adysen in the arm with the back of her hand. Scorpius looked up, trying to hold back a laugh as he watched Rose hit Adysen repeatedly.

'Don't. Say. My. Middle. Name. Ever. Again!' Rose shrieked, each word punctuated with a hit to the shoulder with her rolled up parchment. Adysen giggled as she fended off her attack by hiding behind a smirking Scorpius.

'You have to get through Scorp if you want to get to me,' Adysen taunted.

Rose raised an eyebrow, 'Don't think I won't.'

'Sounds fun,' Scorpius murmured suggestively.

'Shut it, Malfoy,' Rose muttered, sitting back down.

'Second base with a plant, eh?' Scorpius said as Adysen dropped into the seat next to him, as far from Rose as she could get. 'I'll say it again, kinky, Weasley.'

'Shove off, it wasn't like that,' she replied.

'How was it then?'

'Never you mind.'

'The plant felt up her arse during a Herbology lecture at Salem.'

'Adysen!'

Adysen smiled innocently at Rose as she bent her head and scribbled furiously on her essay. Rose sighed and replaced her essay in her bag.

'What did we have for Defense?' she asked pulling out two books from her bag.

'Read the chapter on the Patronus Charm,' Adysen replied bored, doodling on the margins of Scorpius homework.

'That's it?' Rose said bewildered. 'We learned that in fifth year.'

'We're going to learn how to make them into messengers,' Scorpius explained

'Oh.'

Adysen smiled, 'Do you guys remember when we cast our Patronuses and both of yours were playing in the grass together?'

Scorpius smiled and reminisced with her as Rose sat silently, smiling. The two siblings laughed and Rose watched them, noticing several similarities. Both of their eyes crinkled when they smiled too wide, they always swiped their fringe away with their right hands and they both gave long-winded sighs when they would stop laughing.

'Do you guys remember what Frank's Patronus was?' Adysen asked after calming down. 'I haven't the faintest idea what his was. I know yours were lions, Al's was a stag like his dad's, Rinna's was a doe and Steff's was a dog.'

Rose stiffened momentarily at the mention of Frank and Scorpius nudged Adysen with his elbow none to gently. She hissed in pain and glared, 'What?'

Scorpius jerked his head in Rose's direction where she sat, staring at the table resolutely. Adysen's eyes widened in realization.

'Merlin, Rose, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to bring that day up or him!' she apologized profusely.

Rose glanced up and smiled weakly, 'It's fine, Ads.'

'No, Rose-'

'Adysen, it's fine!' Rose said forcefully. Adysen bit her lip as she continued. 'I'm ok. That was over a year ago. I'm over it.'

'You're over it?' Adysen repeated skeptically.

Rose nodded, 'Yea, I am. It was while I was in America that I realized I couldn't waste time moping over a bloke who didn't fancy me the way I did him.'

Adysen looked thoughtful, her mind wandering to James and the conversation she had with Scorpius.

'How'd you get over him?' a voice asked and Rose was surprised the question came from Scorpius.

'Err...I just did, I suppose,' she lied.

'Oh.'

'So,' Adysen wondered. 'Whatever happened to Frank? Have you spoken to him since?'

Rose shook her head, 'No, I haven't. Last I heard, from Dominique, was that him and Roxy have got a flat in London. They both work at Gringott's.'

'That's nice,' Adysen muttered but her tone indicated it was anything but.

Rose sighed, 'It wasn't their fault, Ads. Things like that just happen.'

'Yes, Adysen, falling for someone's cousin does happen,' Scorpius agreed, shooting her a significant look.

'Shut up, Scorpius,' Adysen scowled. She packed her books back into her bag and stood up. 'I've got to go, I promised Rinna I'd meet her in the common room to look over the Charms assignment. See you guys, later.'

'Bye,' they chorused before looking at each other mutinously. The two continued their work in silence. Scorpius was the first to end the quiet.

'You know what I was wondering?'

'No.'

'Why are there four chairs at this table?'

'What kind of stupid question is that?'

'Think about it. Longbottom had said they didn't want us giving the password to anyone else and there are only two of us. What are the other chairs for if not for guests?'

'They probably bought the table as a set.'

'I don't think so.'

'I didn't know you could,' Rose murmured sarcastically.

'Tell me, Weasley,' Scorpius said leaning across the table. 'Are you always such a bitch with everyone or is it reserved for me especially?'

She pretended to think for a moment, 'Hmm, no, it's all for you.'

'Lovely.'

'I like to think so.'

'You're a bitch.'

'So you've said.'

'Well you are!'

'And you're a chauvinistic bastard.'

Scorpius chuckled, 'Those are some big words there, Weasley. Careful, don't choke on them.'

'Only someone of your intelligence would think chauvinistic is a big word,' Rose replied as she closed her book. She stood up, slinging her bag over her shoulder and pushing in her chair.

'Where are you going? Not having any fun here with me?'

'Your battle of wits may be amusing to you, Malfoy, but I find it horribly boring and tiresome,' Rose said, walking to her room. 'It isn't intellectually stimulating enough to hold my interest.'

He smirked as she closed her door and shouted, 'Good night, Weaselette!'

'Go to hell, Malfoy!' came her muffled reply.

He chuckled as he collected his things and went into his own bedroom. Closing the door, he smiled slightly as throughout the conversation, he hadn't heard any actual venom in her tone. At least he'd hoped he hadn't because he knew his own held no meaning behind them.

'Alright, here's the Pepperup Potion,' James said handing over a bright red bottle. 'If you're still feeling ill in the morning, come back.'

The third year Hufflepuff nodded, smiling broadly at him. James adjusted his white robes and looked at the girl confused.

'Err, are you going to take it?' he gestured toward the bottle. She squeaked and hurriedly gulped down the contents, grimacing at the taste.

'Godric, it's awful!' she complained.

'What did you expect, pumpkin juice?' he questioned, his eyebrow raised.

The girl blushed and James had to bite back a laugh at the sight of the very red girl, steam coming out of her ears.

'So, if I still feel sick, I come back tomorrow to see you, Healer Potter?' she asked.

'Madam Pomfrey,' he corrected.

Her face fell as she looked at him with wide eyes. 'You won't be here?'

'Nope,' he said cheerfully. 'I've got Saturdays off. Now, Miss Swanson, I've got other patients to attend to before my shift is over. Off you go.'

The girl, who previously looked rather crestfallen, brightened at his use of her name. She turned and skipped over to her small huddle of friends at the door. The group burst into a fit of giggles at her arrival and they left, waving at James.

He shook his head and headed to the last patient who sat in a curtained off bed in the corner. He stared at the curtain puzzled as to who it could be. He sincerely hoped they wouldn't be frightfully ill; his shift ended in ten minutes. He pulled back the curtain slowly.

'What seems to be the prob-' he began before smiling.

'Well, Healer Potter, I've got an awful headache,' Rose said in a pained voice, her hands clasped together as she lay on her back.

'Really, Miss Weasley?'

'Yup, it's absolutely dreadful. Its name is Scorpius Malfoy. If you've got a potion to make it go away, please, I need it immediately.'

'Haha, Rose, very funny.'

'I thought so.'

James sat on the edge of the bed, 'When are you guys going to start getting along, Rose?'

Rose sat up, 'Perhaps when hell freezes over, I think that would be a good time estimation.'

'Rose,' James said warningly.

She sighed, 'James, I just can't get along with the bloke like everyone else does. Maybe because it's been ingrained in me since I was little to hate Malfoys, you know how my dad is.'

'You don't hate Greengrass or Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy or the little Malfoy,' he said pointedly.

'That's different,' Rose replied defensively.

'How?'

'Because it is! Adysen is my best mate! Draco and Astoria are wonderful people, nothing like what Dad said they would be like. And Alex is the little sister I've always wanted,' she exclaimed.

James sighed, 'All I'm saying is try, Rose. You're not even trying to be polite to the boy.'

'He isn't either,' Rose scowled. 'He's always arguing with me over every little thing!'

James ran a hand through his short hair and stared at her disbelievingly, his blue eyes wide. 'That's called flirting, Rose. You know when a boy fancies a girl and they want to-'

'Ahh!' Rose groaned, slapping her hands to her ears. 'Malfoy does not fancy me! He was not flirting, he was being an obnoxious git!'

'You're being childish, Rose!' James said pulling at her hands.

'I'm allowed to be a child,' she muttered.

'You're seventeen.'

'So?'

'So, you're allowed to use magic outside of school, drink Firewhiskey and Apparate. If you can do that, then you can be adult about this.'

'Not when you're saying Malfoy fancies me!' she exclaimed indignantly.

'Whatever,' James sighed. 'Are we still on for tonight? What am I saying? Of course we are. You ready?'

Rose shrugged. 'Yeah, I wasn't actually sick or anything, I just didn't want to be in the common room with Malfoy.'

James stood up, pulled her with him and linked their arms. 'Let's go. I've got to stop at my room and change before we head over.'

James nodded his head to Madam Pomfrey as they walked out. They walked in comfortable silence when Rose looked around, 'What time is it?'

James glanced at his watch, 'Shit, it's nearly eight! We've got to hurry up.'

Rose rolled her eyes, 'James, relax. It's just a get together, remember?'

James ignored her and kept walking at a fast pace, Rose nearly jogging trying to keep up with him. They stopped at a small portrait of a Niffler rummaging through a pile of gold on the sixth floor. Rose knelt with her hands on her knees, panting heavily.

'How….do you….get in?' she panted.

'You slide the pieces of gold to the Niffler in a certain order,' James explained, reaching a hand out. He used his forefinger to slide over a goblet first, then a locket and lastly a crown. The portrait swung open revealing a short hallway that led to a large square room.

The stone walls were a drab grey, the white wrought-iron bed frame chipped slightly. The bed was covered in a dark blue blanket with white pillows, a large trunk resting at the foot of the bed. White wood furniture was placed strategically around the room; an end table by the bed, a white dresser nearby. James disappeared through one of the three doors in the room that led to the bathroom. Rose wandered over to the other door and found herself in a tiny closet littered with James' clothes and shoes.

'He's here for one week and it already looks like a tornado hit,' she muttered as she closed the door and sat on the bed. After ten minutes of nothing, James walked out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist as he toweled his hair dry.

'Why haven't you any clothes on?' Rose questioned. 'You said we have to hurry up.'

'I don't have anything to wear!' he said panicky.

She rolled her eyes, 'You've got a closet full of clothes. I know, I made the mistake of going in there.'

'None of those look good on me and I've got to look good,' James stressed.

Rose groaned silently and walked over to the chest of drawers. She opened the top one and pulled out a pair of boxers that made her raise an eyebrow.

'Slytherin green?' she asked, raising an eyebrow as she lifted the silken pair to his eye level.

James blushed and shrugged, 'They look nice.'

Rose laughed and threw them to him, 'At least put on some underwear.'

He caught them and began to pull off the towel and Rose slapped her hand over her eyes.

'Not in front of me!' she shrieked. She used her other hand to reach out in front of her and walked into the bathroom.

'Alright, I'm decent!' James called once he'd put them on.

Rose came back out to see her cousin standing in the boxers, his arms crossed, hair disheveled and blue eyes narrowed. He looked at his closet critically before throwing his hands in the air.

'I've got nothing to wear!' he shouted falling onto the bed.

Rose strolled into the closet and grabbed a pair of black jeans and a dark grey button up shirt. She went back into the room and threw them at him.

'Put those on,' she ordered taking a pair of socks from the second drawer and tossing those too. 'The grey brings out your eyes.'

James jumped up and pulled the shirt over his head not bothering to undo the buttons. He slid the jeans up his legs and fastened the clasp. He put on his socks and bent down to put on a pair of black trainers. He walked over to the mirror on the wall. He ran a hand through his short black hair, flattening it in some places, spikes appearing in others.

He turned to Rose expectantly, 'How do I look?'

'Good. Now, tell me, why is it such a big deal that you look your best?' Rose said, the look she gave him knowing.

'No reason,' James said nonchalantly, rubbing his hand down his mouth and chin. Rose looked at him expectantly. 'What? Really, I just do.'

'Don't lie to me, Jamesy, or we'll be here all night,' Rose replied in a sing-song voice.

James grimaced, 'You know I hate being called Jamesy.'

'You know I hate being lied to,' Rose countered.

'Fine,' he sighed. 'I want…I want to look good for Adysen.'

Rose smiled widely, 'I knew it!'

'Then why'd you make me say it?' James demanded.

'Because I wanted to hear you admit it,' she said cheekily.

'Well, there's your answer. I fancy her a lot and I want to show her I'm good enough for her.'

'Ads doesn't care about looks, she's not shallow.'

'She dated Louis,' James said shortly.

Rose brushed off his comment, 'Louis dates everyone.'

'Rose, you understand. I fancy her so much it hurts! I think about her all day, every day! When I go to sleep at night, when I wake up, when I'm getting ready, hoping against hope that I'll see her smile, when I'm in the shower and-'

'OK! You think about her all the time, I get it!' Rose shrieked waving her hands about.

James smirked, 'I just wanted you to know I think about her constantly. I'm in love with her, since sixth year.'

Rose, having rid herself of several unfortunate mental images, smiled at him. 'That's wonderful, James!'

'No, it's not because she doesn't feel the same,' he said and cut off Rose when she tried to protest. 'But she will, I know it. I'll do anything to make her reciprocate.'

'I think she does like you, James,' Rose encouraged.

'Perhaps,' James said as he pulled Rose off the bed. 'Come on, we're already late.'

Rose followed him out of the room and into the corridor. 'She likes you, James, I know it.'

'You might, but I don't, not yet.'

They walked in companionable silence until they reached the portrait. James took a deep breath and said the password. Rose watched as he braced himself and pulled the door open wide.

A/N: I was going to write a long note about how apologetic I am for not uploading but I'm not entirely sure anyone reads these anymore. It's been so long and I am sincerely sorry for keeping yall waiting. Life just seems to have caught up with me and frankly, it feels as if I'm drowning in all these responsibilities that comes with being a functioning adult. I start my second year of university tomorrow and I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd upload a chapter. Because I only go to school three days out of the week this semester, I hope to have more time to write (this is highly optimistic of me considering I have an hour and a half commute to school and the same coming back hope, but fingers crossed!).

I just want to say thank you to anyone who has continued reading this story and again, I'm so sorry. I would like to say I'll update more frequently but I'd hate to say it and then not be able to commit to doing so. I know what it's like to have a story you like not be updated for years and before Istarted writing my fanfic, I always wondered why writers took so long. Well, now I know because I'm one of those writers, but I mean life just gets in the way. But I just want yall to know that I WILL finish this story at some point. I just have to get back into the groove of things.

Well, I've blabbered on long enough, darlings. Read, review, and enjoy! -Adri