DISCLAIMER: I am not JK Rowling, nor do I claim to own Harry Potter. All ideas are my own. I have a couple of busy days ahead due to me working so I am trying to write these chapters in advance so I can publish them quickly. I will let you know if anything changes :). Updating daily :)
A crisp September chill meant that I wrapped up warm to meet Alice and Evelyna. Tidying my hair back in a loose bun, I quickly put on a black knitted jumper and denim jeans, before tying my laces and sprinting down the stairs. I'm never known for being on time, but as it's a new school year I thought I'd at least try to begin it on the right foot.
I really wasn't in the mood to bump into anyone this morning, so you can imagine my displeasure when I ran, literally ran, into Zabini.
Out of all the Slytherin lot to run into, Al excluded, Zander Zabini is the best out of a bad bunch. Okay, that is harsh, he is actually a really nice guy. Fiercely loyal yet stays calm and collected in stressful situations. Okay the last part is actually a huge guess, I have no idea what he's really like, but you must be calm and collected to deal with Malfoy and Nott on a daily basis.
In actual fact though, he radiates calm energy. I get the sense that if I were stuck with him, bearing in mind we don't know each other, he would still make an effort to be friendly and talk to me, which I appreciate. It's also reassuring to know that there is at least one person with their head screwed on in their little trio.
I'm unsure whether to smile, run away or ignore him, however he solves this problem for me.
"Fancy seeing you here Weasley.", he grins.
I am instantly calmed, he's not going to take the piss out of me.
"You alright Zabini?", I reply.
"Been better I s'pose. You seen Malfoy about at all?"
I'm stumped by this question. Zabini knows that me and Malfoy can't stand each other. That's like Ciara asking me if I knew what Eliza was doing tonight, of course I wouldn't know the answer, nor would I care.
"I think you already know the answer to that Zabini. He's probably off somewhere bleaching his hair, so I wouldn't worry. Although thinking about it, perhaps I would worry that that bleach is killing off his braincells, he has so few of them anyway he can't afford to lose anymore."
I don't know what gets into me when someone mentions Malfoy. It is as if there is a button named "bitchy Rose" which is automatically pressed at the reference to his name. I just can't help myself, my mouth opens and words come out of which I haven't even thought through. Luckily for me I'm conversing with Zabini, who I know is just amused by my comment, if it was Nott it would be a completely different story.
"Aw worried you'll have no one to compete with are we Weasley? No biggie, you know I'm in waiting to take his place. Probably could've taken his spot if I cared enough to revise.", Zander says playfully.
Zander Zabini is one of those annoying people who doesn't have to revise but still get top marks. I know, that yes, to an certain extent, I too am one of those people, but I still have to keep on top of my game if I want to ensure that I'm top of the year.
"Maybe if Gryffindor kill him in the next Quidditch match you can take his place?", I retort, trying to imitate his smirk.
"Woah Weasley steady. As much as he can be a pain in the arse I would quite like to keep our beater for this year's season." He quips, winking one olive eye.
I would be lying if I said Zabini wasn't attractive, he is simply put it, gorgeous. Smooth brown skin, toned muscles accentuated by his too small for him jumper, deep olive eyes that you could swim in. All of this accompanied by rich brunette curls which tumble across his forehead gracefully. If I'm jealous of anything, it is definitely the way he manages to tame his curls, mine look like a lion's mane while his are smooth and always perfectly in place.
Despite what it sounds like, I don't fancy Zabini. He is easy on the eye, and we get on well, but I don't get the feeling that I want to rip his clothes off. And also if I dared touch him Roxanne would go mad, she's always had a secret thing for him, despite her current boyfriend (I'm not even sure if I can call him her boyfriend).
"Have you seen the match schedules for this year?", he asks, "Team tryouts haven't even begun and already the games are planned." A evil yet light-hearted smile grows. That definitely means that Slytherin and Gryffindor are playing each other first.
"Oh really?", that also explains James badgering me about Quidditch yesterday, "Who's up first?", I ask, pretending I don't know the answer.
"Slytherin and Gryffindor", he replies, grinning widely now. Despite his evil smile his eyes are still kind, still good intentioned.
"Oh are they now? Shame, I was starting to like you Zabini. Now I must pretend as if this conversation never happened", I say cheekily, faking indifference by turning away from him and sticking my nose up in the air.
He laughs, and seems to be on the verge of replying when I hear his name shouted in the distance. Before I discover which terror has decided to plague our conversation, I bid goodbye to Zabini and quickly walk away. He gives me a knowing smile as I leave, and as I'm leaving I manage to hear the beginnings of their conversation.
"Zander, mate, what are you doing talking to Weasley? We hear enough about her from Scorp, and personally I'm getting rather sick of it".
Ah, must be Nott. Any other girl would question why Malfoy was speaking about them so often, contemplating whether that means he fancies them or not. But I know, with Malfoy, it will never be anything pleasant, so prefer not to waste my time.
—
Me, Alice, and Evelyna spend about 4 hours catching up.
It would've been longer if it wasn't for the fact that Evelyna had to go speak to Professor Flitwick about her timetable, she had been entered for Potions even though she 1. didn't get the grade and 2. cannot stand the subject.
These are the moments that I will most miss from Hogwarts. I know we still have a year left, but times like these are precious. The sparse time you have between lessons, sat in the courtyard or under the huge willow tree by the Black Lake, talking absolute shit and losing track of how long you've been there, is rivalled by no other.
It's just after lunch when Alice and I decide to trek to the Great Hall and pick up the remainders of food. As we walk I can see Eliza and Al in the distance, arguing. Good, I think to myself. Well not good that they're arguing and that means Al will be unhappy, but good if that means they're on the verge of breaking up.
As we edge closer Alice falls quiet, the silence abruptly interrupting our conversation. It is clear, and has been clear to me for a while, that Alice likes Al. They would be so much better suited, Alice is caring and lovely and sweet, not to mention stunning, and Eliza is well, a fucking bitch. Alice is also the daughter of Neville Longbottom, a good friend of our family, whereas Eliza is the daughter of Cho Chang, who Aunt Ginny keeps at an arms length at all times. They would be so well-suited, they both play Quidditch, are both very loyal, patient, good listeners, and love Transfiguration. Alice looks like she wants to vanish into thin air, so we continue walking as if nothing has happened, and make our way inside.
When we sit, we also see James and Fred, no doubt pissing about.
"Alright Rosie", they say in unison, which causes me to grin. You'd think I'd have become immune to their antics by now, but they're my cousins and I love them dearly.
"Hey lads", I reply, "What are you two up to?"
A suspicious tone enters my voice. They haven't played a prank, on me anyway, for a while, so for the next couple of weeks I need to watch myself. Though I don't think James would dare pull a stunt like that before Quidditch, I am one of his strongest chasers and he can't really afford to lose me. Especially not when it is his last year, and he is desperate to win the house cup. Gryffindor have retained the title for the past 2 years, and if James lets it slip out of his hands in his final year, and the year when he is captain, I don't think he'd ever forgive himself.
"Planning team tryouts. Thursday night, 9pm. I've booked the pitch", James says, or rather demands, I don't seem to have a choice in the matter, I am going whether I like it or not.
"Okay, I'll be there". Thursday night, that's in two days, I'm bound to remember.
Alice excuses herself so we all say goodbye, the boys never looking up from their parchment.
Fred then asks interesting yet out of character question, which throws me off for a second.
"Where's Evelyna?", he asks. Odd, but I'm sure he'll soon make his motives clear.
"She had to speak to Flitwick. Why do you care all of a sudden?".
"I don't. But Louis does."
"Louis is nuts if he thinks he has a chance with her, she is two years above him, and it doesn't matter how much Veela blood he has in him as she is with Lucas remember?"
Lucas Thomas. Astrid's older brother and one of the boys' friends, why doesn't Fred remember this? And more importantly, why is he trying to set up his younger cousin with his best mate's girlfriend?
Fred looks sheepish. This isn't a good sign. I go to say something -
"Don't Rosie. It's none of mine or your business. If Evelyna had a problem in her relationship, she would come to you first."
Sounds suspicious but I'm too distracted to care.
The doors to the hall suddenly swing open and Malfoy and his cronies walk in. Zabini winks at me, and I grin at him in reply, before settling my face into a stony glare and looking at Malfoy. Malfoy looks perturbed at mine and Zabini's interaction, but doesn't let this annoyance? confusion? anger? whatever it is grace his features for more than a second. We glare solidly at each other for about a minute, before Fred shoves me and asks me some boring question about Quidditch tactics. It is all they ever bloody talk about.
I can feel eyes burning into the back of my head. Playing it cool, or at least trying to anyway, I stand up gracefully, and walk out the doors, not even sparing a single glance in Malfoy's direction. His stare follows me all the way out the door, but I don't let myself think about him the minute I exit, like I said, I want to start the year out on a new foot.
—
The first day of classes rolls around quickly.
Missing my alarm, yes I overslept on the first day, I quickly chuck on my uniform and race downstairs with 10 minutes to spare before breakfast is over. I wolf down my food, a talent I've inherited from my dad, quickly manage to chat to Hugo about writing to our parents, and leg it into classes. My lessons today are simple: Transfiguration, Charms, one free period, and then Potions. I only hope that Malfoy hasn't elected to take any of the same subjects.
The day seems to run away with itself. Roxanne and I rush into Transfiguration for which we are late (what a surprise), but luckily as it's Professor Mcgonagall we only receive a stern but kind "Sit down ladies.". Then it's onto Charms, in which we learn the cleaning charm, boring, as Mum taught me it last year because she was sick of me coming home with ink stains on my skirt, and then after my free period, which I spend napping (oops), I have Potions. The last lesson of a hectic first day back.
Slipping into my seat, the second row from the front and next to Albus and Alice (yes, perfect chance to set the two up), the lesson begins quite dully. We are learning to brew Amortentia, although we're learning the theory behind love potions today and not actually brewing it until later in the year. A bit random of Slughorn but what else is there to be expected. Apparently the Potions stores are out of powdered moonstone, what a shame.
The lesson is so dull I find myself falling asleep, that is until Slughorn surprises us by partnering us up. I am stupid enough to believe that I have escaped his plans, as I'm sat next to Albus and Alice I assumed I would work with either of them, but no, Slughorn decides to take my day from okay to extremely worse the worse it could ever get by pairing me with Malfoy.
At least Al and Alice have been paired up I guess.
Disgruntled and muttering swear words under my breath, I could probably say them aloud as Slughorn is too deaf to hear but I feel too rude all the same, I move and pull out the stool at the back of the class. Now my day is even worse than it could've been 1. I am next to Malfoy and 2. I am right at the back of the class, so not only am I struggling to see due to Slughorn's microscopic handwriting, but I'm also close to all his most recent potion creations, of which stink as if they're full of shit.
One of them in particular is an oozing neon green colour, which I immediately distrust, as there is something about neon green that I am personally offended by.
"Will you stop moaning Weasley. I don't exactly want to sit next to you either", Malfoy drawls, sounding bored.
Clearly he just wants to start an argument, as I haven't actually opened my mouth.
"You must be hearing things Malfoy", I whisper back angrily, "As I haven't said a word. That's the first sign of insanity you know, hearing things".
"And you'd know all about insanity wouldn't you Weasley. Freaky family with Uncles that have gone loopy." He spits nastily.
He is such a dickhead, but these are old insults I've heard him use before.
It's like he wants to argue but doesn't really have the energy to. Probably used it all up shagging Belle last night, of which I had to hear the aftermath of. "Scorpius did this, and then he did that, and" blah blah blah blah blah.
It's one thing to hear my roommate, who I can't stand, talk about her sex life, but it's another to hear about the 'talents' of my arch enemy.
I'm assuming he's talking about George when he says my Uncles are loopy. My Uncles are all nutters in their own way, Charlie has a dragon obsession and Bill loves goblins?! but are not loopy in the way Malfoy means it. He means the PTSD that George battled, on top of losing his brother. I can't even begin to imagine what that must be like. It's one thing to lose a brother, but another to lose a twin.
I feel myself losing my temper.
"Oh keep it fresh will you ferret-boy? At least my family aren't a bunch of facist death eaters and hated by both sides of the population."
By both sides of the population I mean the Death Eaters and non Death Eaters. Not good vs Death Eaters, as like I've established the world is not split into Death Eaters and good people. It was a low blow, I know, to start talking about his family in such a way, but to be fair to me he ridiculed mine first.
"Please carrot-top haven't you heard or have you been living under a rock? My family were forgiven before we were even born, so you'll have to do better than that".
I have no comeback to this, mostly because he's got me there, and also because as thrilling conversation is with Malfoy, I would quite like to pass Potions this year.
"What? Got nothing to say? That's silenced you hasn't it Weasley? If only someone would do it for good."
"Is that a threat Malfoy? Because as you say, your family have been forgiven, but would be given as first priority to the Dementors if you killed the daughter of the Golden trio, and niece and goddaughter of the boy who lived"
Dementors aren't even used in the Wizarding World anymore, Kingsley Shacklebolt banished them from Azkaban when he became Minister for Magic, and sent them to some random island. Aside from the occasional appearance, where a couple of them have been able to wander away, they're never seen. I just hope Malfoy doesn't pick me up on it.
Again, a low hit, bringing my family into it, which I rarely like to do. I talk about wanting to be seen as separate to my family, but how is that going to happen if I can't even do it myself?
"Dementors aren't used anymore Weasley. I thought you were smarter than this?", he quips snarkily.
"I'm sure they'd make an exception for a family on inbreds such as yourselves", I retort, another low blow, which I know has affected him as he narrows his eyes.
We're both standing now, and we should be preparing ingredients for a simple Cure for Boils. His chest is heaving and his light blue eyes have now clouded over, stormy and menacing.
He takes it to a new level however, and instead of responding verbally, proceeds to kick my shin, causing me to yelp out in pain. Before he has the chance to revel in his success, I elbow him in the side, so he doubles over. I walk over to the ingredients desk, and as I do so he pulls my hair. I turn around sharply, and all I can see is red. Shoving him violently, I realise my mistake as he tumbles into the desk on which stands the smelly neon green potion.
Never have I seen a funnier picture in my life. Scorpius Malfoy, head to toe in stinking, green potion, trailing down his body and on to the floor.
My laughter and hilarity is short-lived however, as I am suddenly aware that the room has gone quiet. All eyes are on me and Malfoy, and Slughorn looks at the pair of us with a look I have never seen before.
He opens his mouth, "Detention. Tomorrow night, 9pm. Don't be late."
He appears calm but his jaw is clenched and his voice strained, he is clearly trying to keep the anger out of his voice. I have never seen him in such a state.
"But Sir - ", the words are out of my mouth before I can even think of what I'm about to say, "It's Quidditch tryouts tomorrow. I promised James I'd be there, I'm chaser on the team."
Mistake.
"I DON'T CARE MISS WEASLEY. NEVER HAVE I EVER SEEN SUCH DISRUPTION IN MY CLASS, AND I TAUGHT DURING TWO WIZARDING WARS. I WOULD NEVER HAVE EXPECTED THIS FROM YOU TWO, ESPECIALLY FROM TWO NEWT LEVEL STUDENTS."
He shouts, chest heaving, his buttons on his robes seeming fit to burst. Silence falls on the class, all is still except for the heavy breathing of Slughorn and the sticky sounds of the potion falling from Scorpius.
He is red in the face, beads of sweat trickling down his face, and his glasses are askew on the end of his nose.
"BOTH OF YOU, STAY BEHIND AND CLEAN UP THIS MESS".
He ends his tirade, with me and Malfoy left standing in a shocked silence, before dismissing the class and exiting, slamming the door behind him. Before he leaves, he addresses Malfoy.
"Mr. Malfoy, as part of your punishment you and Rose can work out what potion it is which you're currently wearing. Make sure you tidy the lab up after you. Leave no earlier than 8pm"
And with that he is gone. Brilliant. 4 hours trapped with Malfoy, who is currently a sticky pile of goop. What could possibly go wrong?
Chapter 5 is done! I hope you can see that the story is starting to take shape by now, the main storyline is due to emerge in the next couple of chapters :). For now, I'll leave you with some questions: why does Rose think about Malfoy a lot? Why is Malfoy annoyed by her and Zabini's new found acquaintance? And what could possibly happen in their detention? See you tomorrow with a new update!