CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE – THE PLAN: PHASE TWO
"Let's go to the common room," I told them.
"Er, why?" Rose asked.
"To find Andrew, of course."
"Um…am I ready for that?"
"Of course you are," Des assured.
"Just be yourself," Kat added.
"Should I…talk to him first or…?"
"Oh no," Des disagreed. "Let him notice you first. He'll come over you sooner or later, I promise. Phase two of the plan: play evasive and make him chase you." The three of us grinned wickedly at her.
"What with you being all gorgeous now…not that you weren't but…how could he resist?" Kat said teasingly.
"Oh, shut up," Rose retorted, "I'm so nervous right now.
"Relax, Rosie," I told her. "This will work out."
"Right," she mumbled with a hint of doubt in her voice.
I gave her a look which she avoided not so subtly. "Rose," I said in what I assumed to be an encouraging yet threatening tone, "don't work yourself up. Stand straight, do the cat walk and be confident."
"Cat walk?"
"It's what muggle models do when they walk on stage on fashion gatherings but…never mind." I sighed and turned to the only Slytherin and bloke in the room. "Hey Scor, are you gonna stay here after we go to the common room or what?"
He shrugged. "I'll probably get some homework done in the library."
"Do you want me to accompany you? I could do with some nasty essay, too."
"No," he answered. "Help Rose with my cousin. I'll live. I appreciate the thought, though." He flashed me his gorgeous smile that sent tingles down my spine and made my stomach do a sort of flip.
I smiled at him. "Well, if you're so insistent on getting rid of me then –"
"But I'm not," he interrupted, his silver eyes twinkling. "It's just healthier for you if you spend time with your girl friends."
"You make it sound like I'm a womanizer lesbian," I pointed out, wincing slightly.
"Of course not, love," he said and for a moment, I was lost for words. It was the first time he ever used a pet name to me, let alone love. I felt my stomach doing that flip again…and my heart is fluttering faster than the latest Firebolt! Merlin, when did a boy have had such an effect on me?
"You know, Lily is apparently in a daze because of what you said Malfoy," I vaguely heard Des mutter.
"What did I say?"
"Quote 'Of course not, love,' unquote. Apparently, you don't even remember saying it…"
"What? I said that?"
"Yeah, yeah…Now, Lily's stuck in a weird stance that might belong to Professor Trelawney."
"WHAT?" I suddenly yelled as I got out of that 'stance' as my best mate pointed out.
"Earth to Lily," Kat giggled. "We thought you won't be coming back from space."
"Sorry I zoned out," I told her and turned to Des. "Say Desiree, who were you comparing to Trelawney?" I raised my eyebrows at her. I didn't particularly like Divination and dropped the subject for Arithmancy instead on our fourth year.
"You," came the blunt answer. Honestly.
I rolled my eyes at her. "Shut up."
"Well, blame your boyfriend for stunning you with the 'word'."
I blushed slightly but still looked at Scorpius. "Sorry. I was…well momentarily stunned by the word love, you see. We're barely two weeks together and I'm still not used to the two of us, if you know what I mean," I said without a hint of embarrassment. I was just being honest.
He merely smiled in my direction, sending me butterflies he didn't know he does. "Fine by me…and just so you know, I didn't say it consciously. It just sort of slipped out without me thinking. I'll try not to let it slip again…"
I gave him a confused look. "I told you I'm shocked but I wasn't actually going to argue with a simple thing as that."
"Okay. Whatever you say, love," he said with a playful smirk, emphasizing the word 'love'.
I rolled my eyes. "I'm going to have to get used to it now, haven't I?" I asked to no one in particular.
"Maybe," Kat said, "but let's go already."
"Yeah, enough with the whole the flirting," Des added straightforwardly.
"Get used to it like I get used to you and my brother," I retorted. "Actually, I'm not yet used to the two of you either. And I'm still not used to Kat and Jonathan and most importantly, I'm still not used to Scorpius an I." I flashed him a smile of my own and walked towards him. "But how would you get used to it if…" I leaned forward and gave my boyfriend (strange to think, isn't it?) a rather passionate and long snog, ignoring my friends and cousin's occasional shouts or murmurs of protest. I could just kiss him all day…he was such a good kisser! I was lost at the feel of his lips on mine, the fragrance of his scent – honey and peppermint toothpaste.
"Don't make me hex the two of you," someone threatened loudly and I hastily pulled apart. I turned around and saw that it was the Head Girl who has said it.
I was blushing but being me, I said, "Impatient much? You could've waited for me to finish, you know."
"I'm almost as impatient as you are but we have different matters on mind. I perfectly remember that you agreed to help me on my own matters though so you might as well say goodbye to your boyfriend now."
I sighed and turned back to see him looking at me with a dazed expression on his face. I snapped my fingers at him and his look focused again. "Oh, sorry…I was rather thinking our recent snog for a while," he said with a smirk.
I raised my eyebrows at him. "Well, we're going now. Just don't think of me too much because I might get so overwhelmed."
"Oh but you couldn't expect me to do that, could you? I'm a bloke, remember?"
"Yeah, yeah. We're going now."
"Oh, okay then." He gave me one last peck on the cheek and the lot of us left, Scorpius heading in the other direction to the library.
"So," Des began after a about a minute, "we never did ask you but…is Malfoy a good kisser?"
"Yeah, Lils, do answer that pleased," Kat gushed excitedly.
I beamed radiantly at them. "I think he's perfect. He's the best kisser out there."
"You never snogged anyone apart from him," Kat pointed out.
"Ouch, Kat. That hurts," I said, feigning hurt but grinned then. "Well, I don't need to snog someone else to prove it."
"Oh, but you know you're brother is – "Des began but I silenced her with a look.
"I don't want to go with details about how good a kisser was my brother."
"How about if I go to details about Jonathan, then?" Kat asked eagerly.
"Well, is he a good kisser?" I asked tentatively, sharing a look with Des in what sure is going to be a giggly Kat…and probably a…
"Yes!" Kat squealed. And there's the giggle. And she rambled about him until we reached the Fat Lady.
"Golden snitch."
She let us in and we entered the common room, which wasn't as full as it usually was because of the weekends. I heard Hufflepuff had tryouts today so some people might be watching.
Al and Andrew were there, though. Des and I carefully approached them, Rose trailing behind us. Kat, on the other hand, went to join Jonathan.
"Hello Al. Andrew," I said. Andrew merely nodded, his eyes trailing on the book he was engrossed with.
"Hey Lils. Hello there, beautiful," he added to Des.
"Hi there…and you seem to fail to notice your cousin's also here. She wanted to tell something to the Head boy, though."
With that, Andrew looked up from his book and his eyes widened in shock to find Rose…well, so much more beautiful than she was before, of course.
"Hey Rose," he muttered in a soft, dazed voice. "What is it you wanted to tell me?"
She shrugged nonchalantly, as if nothing was out of place. Al – who was also informed by his girlfriend about this –, Des and I subtly left our place and headed over to where Kat was. We could still hear them from that place so it's convenient.
"Head duties. Professor McGonagall wanted to meet us after lunch regarding the first two sessions of the tutorials."
"Okay. Thanks for telling me. You want to go to lunch together? It's almost time now…"
Rose thought (or pretended to) for a moment. "Actually, I'm going to our dorms (the Heads have their own dorm) to make a letter to my mum now so I'll just meet you later after lunch," she said, flashing him a smile. I was glad to see that even on side view, – which was our view of them on this part of the common room – Andrew seemed a little put out by the girl who likes him to turn him down.
He still managed to smile back, though. "Okay. You look beautiful, by the way." Rose blushed slightly, raising her eyebrows at him.
"Thanks, I guess?"
He chuckled. "Seriously. You do look beautiful today."
"Today is the key word, isn't it?" she retorted without even a hint of bitterness, though, knowing Rose, she probably was.
"That's not what I meant. You just look different today."
She shrugged and mumbled, "Yeah, maybe. See you later then," and stalked out of the portrait hole. Honestly, I felt like a proud mother of her daughter at the moment. Rose was better than I expected. I grinned and exchanged looks with my conspirators.
"You think Andrew has fallen for her trap?" I asked them eagerly, looking at Andrew whose eyes were still looking at the portrait hole Rose disappeared into.
"I think so," Al answered.
"How would you have reacted if I said yes to your best mate?" I can't help but ask him.
He scrutinized at me with those emerald eyes and I suddenly felt a bit self-conscious. "It would be awkward," he said finally, "and maybe just the way you felt towards me and Des because she's also your best friend. But really Lils, I wouldn't interfere if you ever dated anyone. I mean, I really think you need to start dating someone. If I remember right, mum had her first date when she was in third…or was it fourth year? I think you should say yes to someone for a change."
"What if I said 'yes' to a Slytherin?" I asked innocently with a playful grin on my face. I exchanged a look with my friends at his back but keep my demeanor light just so he wouldn't suspect me.
He thought for a moment, his eyebrows creased. "Depends," he said finally, "on who that person is. But why am I answering the question, anyway? It's not like you're going to date a Slytherin, aren't you? I mean, almost the whole Slytherin house is afraid that you might hex their fat arses to actually ask you out because of you're reputation but…hang on. Has someone there asked you out?"
He scrutinized me again with his green eyes which were so much like our father's eyes.
I shouldn't tell him, should I?
No don't be stupid, another voice in my mind argued. He'll get mad at you if you lied to him.
He's my brother. He won't get mad.
Just tell him. It wouldn't hurt to let him in on your secret.
It would. What if he gets mad at Scor?
Trust me. He wouldn't. He values his friends too much.
But –
"Lily!" Al yelled at me, waving me back to reality.
"Oh, sorry. I spaced out for a moment…"
"Lily," he said in a serious voice this time, "are you hiding something from me?"
"What?" I asked in feigned innocence although my acting skills were slipping out a little. "What should I hide from you?"
"Has someone in Slytherin asked you out?"
"Er…"
"Merlin's soggy left sock! Who the bloody hell was it?"
"Uh-oh…" I mumbled in fright and unfortunate for me, Al heard.
"You said yes, didn't you?" he asked incredulously, standing up and getting the attention of those who were in the common room.
"Uh, I guess I'll go for a walk a bit," Jonathan said suddenly to excuse himself from the other Potter's wrath.
"Who is it?" he asked again. "Who asked you out?"
"Al I'm –"
"WHO?"
My temper was getting the best of me just as my brother was.
"ALBUS SEVERUS POTTER! IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS WHATSOEVER I DO! YOU AREN'T EVEN SURE WHAT YOU'RE ACCUSING ME OF!"
"OH YES, I BLOODY AM SURE!" he retorted angrily then said in a much lower voice, "I could tell. Why would you get all defensive if not? And you're my sister so I know." He sat down again and faced me. "Sorry if I overreacted but I don't like it when you're lying to me, especially because you're so good at it I almost couldn't tell the difference."
I took few deep breaths to calm myself down whilst those who where watching us went back to their own businesses. "Al," I mumbled and he looked up. Green met hazel. "I'm not sure I'm up to telling you here and now…but I guess you ought to know."
He gave me a small, encouraging smile. "Let's go outside then."
"Okay."
He gave Des a peck on the lips before joining me outside. I led him to an empty and unused classroom near the common room. He closed the door shut and turned to face me.
"Al," I began, "whatever I tell you, please try to see some reason, okay? You might be a bit shocked on what I'll tell you…"
He nodded. "Okay. I'll listen."
"You might want to sit down." He nodded again and we sat down on stools facing each other.
And so, I told him, beginning with what I felt when we celebrated during the summer, after the accident, my first rounds with him, and until the present. I conveniently left out the switch. I'm not particularly fond of telling that to anyone and even my friends didn't know it.
After I finished, he looked like his head is going to explode with information.
"So," I mumbled, "are you…mad at me? At him?"
His eyes snapped into focus and looked at me. "No…but I will be mad at him if he ever hurts you. You know we're sort of friends now, right? I might give him some talking later…do you know where he is?"
"Al," I said in an anxious tone.
"I promise not to curse him Lils," he reassured sincerely. "I just have to give him a little talk because he's dating my only sister."
"Do you have to do that?" I whined.
He simply rolled his eyes at me. "Do you prefer if I hex him? Because I have no problem in doing so. In fact I remember vaguely the dueling club in our third year when he got really pissed on me for winning a duel over him. I sure have no problem trying to do it again and worse because we both happen to be seventh years."
"Fine," I said in a high-pitched voice. "He's in the library. That's where he said he would head to earlier."
"Okay. I'll go there now then."
"Wait," I said, "I'll come with you."
"No Lils. Go back to the common room," he ordered sternly but I wouldn't back down.
"I'll come with you," I said firmly.
"No, you won't."
"Yes, I will," I said in a dangerously low voice, pulling out my wand from my pocket and holding it in front of me ominously.
"Stubborn," I heard him mutter and said much louder, "Fine."
I smiled triumphantly and lowered my wand. "Let's go then."
He sighed and followed me in defeat.
"Oy, Scorpius," Al said as we spotted the blond Slytherin alone on a secluded table in the library. I glanced at him nervously, conveying him the message that Al knows with a look. He nodded in understanding and turned to face my brother.
"Albus," he said in a calm, collected voice.
"Look mate, I don't want to beat around the bush here so let me get this straight," my brother said with a hint of impatience, barely controlling the volume of his voice.
"Al," I hissed, "lower your voice, will you?"
"Sorry Lils, it's hard to lower my voice in this situation. Muffliato," he muttered so we wouldn't be overheard. "There. Now, back to the subject. You're dating my sister now, Scorpius?"
"Yes."
"You're not playing with her?"
"No."
"You won't mess with her?"
"No."
"Give me a reason to believe you."
"Because I chose her over my cousin," he said simply.
"What?" Al asked, not quite understanding.
"I chose her over Andrew. I debated on whether to give Lily and us a try because I knew that our feelings are mutual, or if I should push her to my cousin who also shared the same feelings I have towards her. I chose the former and now Lily and I are together. I'm not saying this would last forever or she would never get hurt but I took the risk…I've grown fond of her over the years since she came because she's so friendly but hot-tempered, funny but stubborn, beautiful but never dated till now, small but terrible…but I couldn't say she's small now," he finished, smiling lovingly at me.
My brother seemed stunned for a moment so I took this time to sit beside Scor and engulf him with a short, dignified hug. "Thanks," I whispered in his ear. I was really touched by his words. Really though, this was the Scorpius I first met…sweet and gentleman. There would be the occasional cheeky or arrogant or impassive Malfoy but I always loved…no scratch that…I always liked (Merlin, love is just too deep to be felt at this moment in time) the sweet and teasing Scorpius the best.
"Did you help in their plan on getting Rose and Andrew together?" Al said finally, sitting in front of us.
"I didn't exactly but I noticed, though, in our classes that she fancies him. I clued Lily on it with a note."
"Yep," I said, looking at my brother. "He sent me that note on first day of classes, Monday. You know, when I was all by myself in the common room during my free time and you, Rose and Andrew entered the common room. That was when I noticed it…"
"…so Lily and her friends did something about it to which they dragged me into," Scorpius finished.
"Your friends already know about this?" Al asked with slight incredulity.
I raised an eyebrow at him. "Of course, they do. We always tell each other things like this. Don't tell me you're disappointed that I didn't tell you first. You don't exactly talk with me about your past girlfriends and stuff. It's not something you'll want your sibling to put his or her butt into." I gave him a pointed look.
"Er…I'm not exactly sorry Lils but I'm just looking out for you, not butting into your business –"
"Which is what you're doing, exactly," I interrupted. "Look Al, I could take care of myself. You know, like mum, I'm not exactly the most emotional of all women. It's my first so just let me handle this."
"But if –"
"Mate," Scor interrupted. "Could you give it a rest for a while? I mean, we're only together for about ten or eleven days so save the lesson."
"I agree with him, Al," I said. "Stop fretting. As soon as Rose and Andrew are together and dad is back at home, I would tell them about this."
"How about you?" Al asked the Slytherin. "Would your parents take this news alright? I mean, you're all purebloods and whatnot."
He shrugged. "They wouldn't mind. Mum was a Ravenclaw, you know, and dad told me once not to repeat his mistakes…it wasn't a mistake that he married mum but rather, just to do what you want and let no one interfere."
Al sighed. "Okay," he said finally and cracked up a grin. "You're not using her to win on Quidditch, are you?" he asked teasingly.
The two of us rolled our eyes simultaneously at him. "Childish, Al," I commented and the three of us laughed.
It's only one week before the first Hogsmeade weekend but the Head boy still didn't ask out the Head girl. Some couple of guys asked Rose out already because of her beautiful transformation but she declined them all, still waiting for Andrew. She was beginning to worry and came up to the fifth year girls dormitory to tell her anxiety.
"Lily!" she yelled, bursting inside our dorms.
"Rose, what are you doing here?"
"I need to talk to you."
"Me? Or Des and Kat, too?"
"You three."
"Okay then." I turned to look at Denise and Jasmine. "Do you mind not eavesdropping, Creevey and Finnegan?" I asked them in a forced polite voice. I don't know why but I couldn't get myself to like these girls ever since, even if we're living in the same dorm.
They nodded boredly and continued to do their nails.
The four of us crammed on my bed and I muttered, "Muffliato," waving my wand. "Just in case the nuts spread rumors around. So what is it you wanted to tell us?"
"He still didn't ask me out!" she burst out.
"He's just too intimidated to admit it," Kat assured.
"Yeah," Des agreed.
"You know what? I'll try to talk some sense into him," I said, grabbing the map from my bedside table and simply stalked out of the dorm on a new mission.
I saw his name on the Heads dorm so after five minutes of walking, I knocked on a portrait of a little girl which was the entrance to their common room. Seconds later, Andrew opened the door and his eyes widened in surprise at finding me there.
"Hello Lily. Rose isn't here," he said affably.
"No, I'm not looking for her. Actually, I needed to talk to you."
"Come in," he said and let me enter. I sat on an armchair facing him.
"Look, you know that the Hogsmeade weekend is in a week, right?"
He nodded perplexedly. "Well, I was thinking…you know, I don't want to be rude or push you into something or anything but please don't let me hinder on you getting someone else out. I'd loved it if you would take someone out that time because…I'm going out with someone. And I've noticed someone out there who got her eyes on you. I just hope you're not too blind to see it.
"That's all I wanted to say," I said and stood up and left to leave him with his thoughts.
I came back to the common room just fifteen minutes after I left.
"That's fast," Des commented. "Did you find him?"
"Yeah. In the Head's room. I left him there with jumbled thoughts."
"What did you tell him?" Rose asked anxiously.
"I told him that someone out there likes him and he's just too blind to see it. I also told him I'm going out with someone on the next Hogsmeade weekend."
"You told him that!"
"Why not? It's not as if I told him I'm going out with his cousin…"
"But you're going to and he'll see it sooner or later."
"I know but honesty is the best policy right? Okay, I'm going to do rounds now. And oh, thank Rose for pairing me up with Scor. You're the best Head Girl and cousin out there."
She smiled at me and they said their goodbyes. And so I met with Scorpius in the Entrance Hall for the third time to do rounds – and other things a prefect ought not to do – with him.
"Herbology sucks," I groaned on Tuesday morning after one nasty Herbology incident involving me and my left hand, which now sport loads of nasty boils, thanks to Professor Longbottom.
"You shouldn't have put your hand in there without the dragon hide glove," Kat said.
"I know, I know. I'm just so stupid at it. I don't like it anyway. But I know you, Katrina Alice Longbottom, are in love with it and – Ow!" I suddenly whimpered as the pain in my hand increased. "I'll just go to the infirmary. Tell Flitwick, will you?"
"Do you want some company?" Des asked in concern.
"No, I'll be fine. Just tell him, okay?"
"Okay."
I made my way to the infirmary in a rush as the pain on my left hand gradually increased. It felt as though it was burning.
Unlucky for me because just as I was just rounding into another corridor, I met just the people whom I don't want to meet at the moment, especially because I was injured.
Walking towards me were Stella Selwyn and her followers Cassandra Turpin and Danielle Gray.
"Look whose here," Selwyn sneered when they caught sight of me. She was smirking in a way that made my blood boil. "What happened to ickle Potty? Does your hand hurt? Aww…" The three girls laughed but I merely rolled my eyes at them, thinking of a way on how to escape their unwanted company.
"Don't you threesome gruesome sissies have classes?" I drawled in a bored voice, trying to regain some feeling in my hand.
"It's our free period," Selwyn replied with a new glint in her eyes, "and I think revenge would be the most welcome thing to do this time right now."
She exchanged a look with the other Slytherins and simultaneously, they drew out their wands and pointed it at me. I abandoned holding my left hand and drew my wand with my right one. I couldn't bear lose a fight without trying to defend myself. If only I wasn't in such state, I could take the three dumb girls easily.
"Girls," she said, "I think it's time we teach Princess Potter how to respect her superiors."
Before they could utter a spell, I said, "Silencio!" waving my wand at them. "Twenty points from Slytherin, Gray and Turpin for trying to help a prefect (*Selwyn's a prefect) harass another prefect, which is me," I said in a triumphant voice. How stupid were they?
They looked absolutely furious and began walking towards me, looking ready to straddle me the muggle way. I was about to put them in a body bind but suddenly, Selwyn launched on me, pushing me backwards and I fell on my back. The pain on my left hand was back again as it hit the floor and I felt tears of pain flowing on my cheeks. I suddenly cursed myself for letting my wand fall from my hand.
"ARGH!" I yelled in agony and anger. Gray covered my mouth with her hand and Turpin and Selwyn slapped me all over my body and pulling my red hair.
I bit Gray's hand and began yelling again. "YOU SLIMY SNAKES!" I shrieked in anger. "HELP!" I was about to shout again but Gray put her hand back on my mouth. I began losing energy as the pain in my hand was doubled by the slaps and pulls I received from the three deranged females. Where are the other students or staff? Bloody hell, I'm going to die here in pain!
Suddenly, I heard footsteps around the corner and sighed slightly in relief. Through my blurry and teary eyes, I vaguely saw someone with fair hair walking, and suddenly running towards us.
"Selwyn, Gray, Turpin," someone with a familiar voice said in a dangerously low voice, "what happened here?"
But of course, they couldn't answer because I put a Silencing Charm on them.
The blond turned his head towards me and I saw him clearly for the first time. "Lily," Scorpius said in a very anxious voice and kneeled down to look at me. He suddenly turned his cold, grey eyes towards the trio. "What did you do to her?"
They still couldn't answer of course so I cleared my throat and spoke instead. "I put them a Silencing Charm."
"Why?"
"So they couldn't curse me," I choked and sat up, glaring at the three who seemed frozen on the spot. "They were going to hex me so I silenced them and docked points on Slytherin. I hope you don't mind," I added, remembering he was a Slytherin, too.
He merely shrugged in response, as if he couldn't care less. I stood up and got my wand from where it had fallen and whipped it to release the three girls from the spell I used on them.
"WHY ARE YOU DEFENDING HER?" Selwyn blurted out the moment she regained her ability to speak.
"Why would I not if she's right?"
"BECAUSE SHE'S A GRYFFINDOR! YOU SHOULD STICK TO YOUR OWN HOUSE, SCORPIUS!"
"I've stopped sticking to my own house the moment I've stopped being friends with Zabini and the others. Why would I stick to a house full of nutters, anyway?"
I giggled and she turned to glare at me. Then she looked back at Scorpius. "Why did you call her by her first name?"
"Why do you want to know? We happen to know each other well these past couple of days and I'm mates with her brother."
"But…you shouldn't!"
Before my boyfriend could retort, I interrupted. "Fifty points from Slytherin for strangling me…and just to make sure you wouldn't dock points to Gryffindor…" I paused, waving my wand at her. "…I casted a jinx that would put tiny boils on your face the moment you try and utter wrong punishments to any house. I would actually love it if you try so I could see your ugly face in a worse state. And – Oof!" I exclaimed. "You're lucky my left hand's in pain or else I would've doubled your punishments."
"YOU – "
"Leave!"
"Why are you – "
"Oh, stop fancying my knickers, Selwyn! I know you're spreading rumors!"
"Yeah, I've heard of it," I muttered and had a sudden idea. I waved my wand at the three other girls and smirked. "Oh, if the three of you spread rumors about anything…and I meant really anything…you're going to sprout the ugly boils. My business is finish here so I'll leave now. Bye."
"I'll come with you," Scorpius offered as the three stalked off, Selwyn crying dramatically.
"It's okay Scor. Go to your class now."
"I don't have classes."
"Um…I'm not sure. What would anyone think if they see us together?"
"That I'm helping my mate's sister?"
I sighed. "Okay. The hospital wing's near now, anyways."
"Come on, then."
"Oh, and Scorpius…" I said and the moment he turned to look at me, I gave him one passionate kiss. "Thanks."
"What happened to you Ms. Potter?" Madam Pomfrey, the elderly nurse, asked as we entered the infirmary.
"My hand sprouted some boils during Herbology." I showed her my left hand.
"Tut, tut," she said disapprovingly. "You should've been more careful. And – oh, what happened to you?"
"Uh…"
"She was strangled by some Slytherins," Scorpius answered for me.
"When will this rivalry between the two houses end? You know, Lily, you're grandfather was one of those who legendarily sported some of the greatest pranks on Slytherins. And oh, your father and Draco Malfoy were also one of the greatest rivals at Hogwarts."
"That's my father, you know," Scorpius pointed out.
"Oh, sorry dear... I forgot you're his son. You're fathers were sworn enemies…it surprises me that you two have feelings for each other…"
"WHAT?" Scor and I yelled in shock at the same time. How could old Poppy know about that?
"It seems that way to me…" She fixed us a look. "…but I guess you two have a different say, I'm sorry."
"Yeah."
"Here dear." She held out a green, thick paste at me. "Put it in the boils. They would disappear after a few hours at most."
"Thanks."
She nodded and left to her office. I turned to look at Scorpius. "Don't you have anywhere to go now?"
"You want to get rid of me already?"
"Of course, not…I was merely wondering why you are wasting your time here watching me apply a nasty looking sort of paste on my now ugly looking left hand."
"This is hardly wasting time. I love spending time with you, anyway." Again, with the word love…why did it always make my heart race; makes my stomach flutter.
I nodded and turned my head down so he couldn't look at me. When I finished applying the potion, I said, "I need to head to Charms now."
He gave me a smile. "Do you want me to walk you?"
I shook my head, flustered. "Oh no, go study…or read or something."
He chuckled. "Sure thing."
We stepped outside the room and turned our separate ways.
I was daydreaming about my wonderful boyfriend on my way when a pair of hushed voices shook me away from my reverie. I glimpsed the Head Students talking in an empty corridor silently. Rose was putting up bravado, trying to conceal the anxiety I knew she was feeling. Andrew, on the other hand, wasn't bothering to conceal his nerve as he began fidgeting and chancing glances at the other, obviously flustered by the stunning redhead.
I walked quietly and hid behind a suit of armor to eavesdrop, hoping against hope that Andrew would finally ask her out.
"Rose..." Andrew muttered and Rose looked up to him with those baby blue eyes.
Just ask her out already so that I could go out in public with Scorpius now, I thought.
"Yes, Andrew?"
CLIFFHANGER...Sorry about that but there's more to know the next chapter...
Should I make Andrew ask Rose out already? I put the cliff because that part is still undecided.
Oh, and sorry if this chapter's not the best of me in grammar and typing and such because I'm half asleep while doing this...Sorry for the typos because I'm sure there are some.
Thanks for reading. PLEASE REVIEW! I need a little bit of coffee and encouragement...reviews?
:)
