Chapter 8
Scorpius was the first one to wake up. He tried to sit up with a groan and first felt the thick rug beneath him which must have broken their fall. He realized he was in some sort of an empty living room in rich wood paneled walls and probably dark marble floors. He barely took notice of anything else because he suddenly remembered Rose, and as he turned to look for her, he saw her still unconscious behind him.
Scorp clambered towards her and tried to shake her awake. Rose started stirring and her eyes fluttered open. He helped her up to sit and checked her for any injuries. When he found none, they both tried to stand, Rose shakily standing holding on to his arms for support.
The two now have a clear view of the room. Clearly they were not in her house anymore, and quite frankly perhaps they have left her attic since they entered trunk. Scorp casually joked about magical wardrobes again just to lighten their mood.
The room was opulent, he could easily see now that the ceiling where they came from was probably two stories high, maybe a good twenty feet. It was a miracle neither of them got injured or had bone fractures. He doubt the rug saved them from the fall but he didn't voice it out to her anymore. There were a whole lot more to get worried about, and waking up unscathed is actually quite lucky for them that he didn't bother questioning.
A lot to worry about, truly, like the fact that it was already afternoon outside.
Or that it was clearly snowing outside when spring has already started where they came from.
Scorpius tried the pry the large french doors open that leads to a balcony but none would budge. He also tried opening the large wooden doors but Rose stopped him. Her bravery a while ago now turned to wariness as she ordered him to look for another pseudo weapon since they've both left the golf club and the paddle from where they came from.
The room was empty, no furniture aside from the cushioned bench positioned at an alcove on both sides of the walls. Rose observed that the room somewhat resembles a large gallery, or a hallway because of the lacking furniture and the extensive amount of doors. Or it could even be a ballroom, it was spacious enough to be one, and she remembers seeing one when she and her Nan visited the Kenwood House.
Scorp couldn't find anything usefull, and she also realized she must have dropped her phone from the stoned hall because she couldn't find it anymore. To their dismay Scorp phone had a crack in it and has lost all signal despite its working condition. Rose suggested to put his phone in saving mode so that they could prolong it longer, perhaps once outside they could get some signal.
With nothing else to do, they headed towards the only wood door in the room. Carefully pushing it open, and thanking god that this door has ordinary handles on them - albeit still ostentatious in design, the two exited the room quietly. Careful not to attract any attention.
Rose wanted to shout to call anyone's attention but Scorp covered her mouth before doing so and shushed her as well.
Quietly, they walked in another long hallway. Scorpius could see they were probably in a higher level because all the french doors they pass by lead to a balcony. The grounds were barely visible, because all he could see were endless snow.
They end up this time in some sort of intersection. Where more halls lead to another. Going further, they can now see paintings mounted on the walls, their frames polished to shine and some even look like the gold coins from their Mum's box. When Rose mentioned it, Scorpius suddenly reached for the pockets inside his hoodie and took out the coins. He couldn't explain it, but it felt right giving the other half to Rose, now both of them have one and might be able to use it later.
Roses decided to follow the hall with more paintings. The house, or rather the mansion was clearly empty as they have yet to bump into someone. It was eerie, that not even a sound was coming out from anywhere. Scorp also found it weird he couldn't hear the breeze from the outside, he should at least hear some of the windows vibrating, especially given how tall they are and that it is snowing outside. But perhaps heavy ornate doors are more soundproof than he anticipated.
"This doesn't seem right." He offhandedly said. Rose mumbled 'you think' before he stopped in front of one of the paintings.
"It's just that these painting… it just look so empty." He said.
"For example this one. Look at it," he pointed at a painting of bay window that looks like a niche. There was a circular table accompanied by a rattan chair with tea set and what seems like an unfinished embroidery hoop.
"I feel like someone should be painted in there as well. The painting looks like it's missing its muse." Rose looked skeptically at him and then at the painting. She didn't let him stare longer at the painting in fear that it might swallow him and they end up inside it. It was not an impossible situation, they've been having one crazy incident after another. She pulled at his arm and dragged him away from it less her theory be proven. She didn't think they could handle another weird episode. She just needs to find out how to get out of the house and look for signal to call for help.
After much exploring and one disappointing empty room after another, they finally arrived at a foyer. Two grand staircases that leads either towards the main entrance hall or upwards to another level. From there they could see that they were on the second level and there are four more levels above them. Scorpius think they might be in an empty palace, and is starting to get freaked out how creepy it is. It was the perfect setting for ghosts and the undead.
When Scorpius saw that the snow was getting heavier outside, he convinced her to go upstairs instead of outside. Heading to the upper floors could give them more signal instead of braving the snow in their attire. It was then that Scorpius realize that neither of them were cold, and this was coming from Rose who shivers from a mild breeze. Maybe the building has good ventilation and heating which is a good sign. Warm floors means the presence of a heating system therefore electricity. Well he just wish it is electricity, how he wish for at least a telephone right now.
They didn't explore the third level, but did try to at the fourth before walking up to the highest level. Rose gestured for him to follow her and they both concluded they were in the private quarters. There were more doors along the hallways that could lead to bedrooms and they decided to check them out as well.
For some reason their feet were carrying them to one side of the wing. At the end they opened another set of wooden double doors and was surprised to see a luxurious seating room. There was a fireplace just adjacent to the door and more Victorian style furniture. Cushioned seats in the softest fabric Rose ever touched and crystal lamps on marble tables. Even the curtains looked extremely expensive with an equally expensive looking crystal chandelier at the middle of the ceiling.
"How do you reckon it lights up?" Scorp asked.
"Huh?"
"Well I've yet to see any switches… or outlets." Rose was shocked at that, perhaps it was an old palace and the control system was in another room but Scorpius was getting more skeptical every minute in there.
Still, despite it's luxurious state, it still seemed cozy. If she were probably outrageously wealthy, she could play princess here. Not bad, she thinks, and has allowed herself to relax on one of the settee.
She was about to drift into sleep, the soft chair felt like heaven and she has relaxed considerably sitting on it. But Scorp suddenly called for her.
"Rosie, come take a look at this." She opened one eye to peek at him. Scorp was not amused and stomped his feet to get her attention. He was like a spoilt kid and she laughed at how spoilt he was acting.
"Coming, coming." She grumbled and ambled begrudgingly towards him.
"What is it? That chair was comfy and I needed to rest, this place has too many halls and stairs."
"Just look at this." He said. She rolled her eyes at his demands but still followed where his hand was pointing at.
There carved at the door, in that flourish handwriting, was her name. Well, her first two names.
Lyra Rose Granger-Malfoy
… … …
It appears to be a nursery wing. On the other side was a similar door with Scorpius' name. He left Scorpius for a moment in favor of exploring her own room. It was extensive, it's square footage probably bigger than her own house. Surreal that this could probably be her room, her house. Outside she could see the snow has calmed and one of the tall french doors lead to a Juliet balcony. She tried to peak outside, expecting to see tall rose hedges and a beautiful elaborate garden with Grecian statues and stone benches.
She wondered if this was home. The rose wood floors, paneled white walls, even the ornate ceiling screamed luxury she was not used to. She actually felt more detached to this room than her current one. It felt unreal, and she can't imagine living in a place like this. Scorpius probably disagree with her, as she could hear him whooping for joy from her door. The guy must be ecstatic with his find.
Rose laid down on the massive bed, with periwinkle silk sheets that is doing wonders for her aching body. She tried to scoot towards the middle and it's imposing size drowns her petite frame. She lay there like a starfish staring at the princess canopy. Her mind wondered if this was a child's room, how would the Master's suite look like. Maybe in darker tones than her light themed ones. Still, despite the ostentatious grand room and the surreality of the moment she felt herself drifting. The next thing she knows the soft mattress has lulled her to sleep.
That was how Scorpius found her, sleeping peacefully on top of the covers. She must be tired from all that walking and hasn't fully recovered from their fall. He scoot over towards her to join her but unlike Rose, sleep evaded him. His mind was running in miles, thinking of every possibility.
He knew he was special, since his tiny hands commanded his toys to run around in his room when he was barely five. Besides his platinum blonde hair and light coloured eyes doesn't exactly scream ordinary. In fact, he was easily top of his class, has the physique of a professional athlete, and not really wanting to brag is more handsome than your the usual blokes in his class, heck probably even in London. Okay he might be exaggerating, but history says otherwise. If it weren't for his Aunt's strict nature he would have landed many commercial gigs at a younger age.
"Wow, really. Could you get more self centered than that?!" Rose sneered, her voice laced with disgust.
Scorpius couldn't help but laugh back. "Oh ha ha. Laugh it up. Someone needs to bring you back to earth." her acerbic wit shone through.
It felt too unreal that just a few hours ago their bodies were in the same position as is in her old bedroom. And they're in - well her bedroom still, and still at a lost of what to do. Even more clueless now.
"I'm hungry. We should find the kitchen probably, I really have no intention sucking this tiny packet of sauce, and I don't even like onion as much."
"Ugh you still have that? Stop being a flake and throw that away. No one wants to smell your disgusting breath." Upon saying so Scorpius breathe heavily on her face and had to evade quickly from her kick. She almost hit his priced jewels.
"Come on Rosie, we have no signal and no way of returning right away. Might as well explore right." She rolled her eyes at his impatience. She does agree with him but he didn't need to find that out. Rose just followed him out in a much more sedate place while he tried to jog out of their wing.
Rose looked back at their rooms. The opulence was intimidating, and she doesn't care much for this luxury, but it would have been nice to have grown up with him.
"Come on!" Scorp shouted again.
Nice… even if he could be a pain in her arse some times.
