Rose and Cissa took off with a promise that we would see each other and grab lunch the next Hogsmeade trip. It was weird to think about having female friends who were not on the Slytherin Quidditch team with me.
Weird but good.
In fact the rest of that day went much better. It was good to just talk things through with no awkwardness. I really felt like I had been missing out by not surrounding myself with feminine influences.
Right then anything seemed better than these two boys who were determined to kill me off or break my heart. They were at the very least good mood killers.
But for now everything was good.
No leaping through time. No deranged daughter (maybe) of a madman who was trying to simultaneously sink her hooks in to my cousin AND kill me off. It absolutely had to be the worst buy one get one deal ever!
And everything remained good all the way until three days later when Scorpius announced he would in fact be taking Polly Chapman to the Fallen of Hogwarts Memorial Yule Ball. And admittedly, Blood Ball rolls off of the tongue easier but I would never trade this Ball for that one!
I was trying, once again to study my advanced potions when Scorpius and Albus came bursting in, Scorpius all aquiver with excitement.
They seemed determined to destroy my study time one Merlin awful announcement at a time.
"I can't believe she said yes!" Scorpius spun around.
"She asked you to help her make Yann jealous." Albus kept shooting glances at me. "She doesn't like you for YOU, Scorpius."
"Correction. "Scorpius held up two fingers. "She doesn't like me for me NOW." He dropped one finger. "She will learn at the Ball how perfect we are for each other."
"If you say so…" Albus didn't seem convinced. I wish I shared his lack of optimism.
"I do indeed!" Scorpius flung himself on to the couch next to me and slung an arm around me. "What do you think Lils?"
I tried to keep my face and tone neutral. No way would I let him know he had just sent a stunning curse straight to my heart.
"What do I think about what?" I asked, as disinterestedly as I could.
"Me. Polly. Our impending love of the century." Scorpius clarified.
My heart and stomach clenched. What did I THINK? Had this idiot really just asked me such a purely stupid question?
Breathe, Lilliana, breathe. I kept reminding myself that shouting did not improve a situation.
"What do I think?" I practically shouted. "I think this is twice now you have kept me from my important study time with this non sense."
Scorpius looked at me shocked. "Oh… ummm.. sorry…"
"I think," I was definitely shouting now. I no longer cared whether or not I improved the situation. "That if you want to go around with a girl who made my first year here miserable and set my broom on fire that is YOUR business."
"But Lils… people change." Scorpius argued.
Albus was looking back and forth between us concerned, but resigned. And not at all shocked. Like he had been expecting this outburst.
But how could he have been, even I had no idea this announcement would make me so angry.
"She hasn't changed." I snarled. "She SET MY BROOM ON FIRE! She is using you to make another boy jealous. And she SET MY BROOM ON FIRE!"
"Oh!" Scorpius eyebrows rose. "Is that it? You like Yann and you…"
Way to miss everything I just said, Scorpius!
Albus groaned out loud. "Scorpius… no…."
"Yes, that is EXACTLY it." I grabbed my books. "I am jealous that a girl who has tormented me likes a boy who also tormented me. How could I have failed to see that?"
"I…" Scorpius started.
I stormed towards the doors. "Skip it, Scorpius Malfoy. Just stow it. Date who you want. I assure you it doesn't matter to me one little bit!"
"Lilliana…." Albus looked after me worried. "I don't think…"
"Oh and YOU should know, Albus, in that future where you didn't exist Scorpius' new gal pal was celebrating the cold blooded murder of your father." Then I twisted the knife a bit more. "And she was using your last name as a slur word."
I flung the dungeon door open. "Some people DO change. They get MUCH worse." I shouted in to their stunned faces as I left.
It took me a bit to find a nice quiet place to study. And by Merlin I would NOT let Scorpius' latest brand of stupidity stand in my way!
I mean who cares who my idiot best friend dates?
Let him go snog the entire Gryffindor Quidditch team for all I care!
I realized too late that I had given my potion three and a half clockwise stirs instead of thee and one quarter when the entire thing started smoking and smelled of burnt hair.
"Bloody HELL!" I vanished the disgusting mess with my wand.
I felt like sitting down and weeping.
Before I could give in to the urge I heard someone speak up from behind me. "Unless you are trying to remove someone's hair, I take it that potion did not turn out quite the way you wanted.
I looked up in to Louis' sympathetically smiling face.
"Actually…" I finished cleaning up my mess. "That isn't the worst idea I have heard today."
"Is there anyone particular whom you wish baldness on?" Louis cast a spell that banished the last of the smell.
"Several people." I admitted. "Starting with Scorpius and ending with Polly Chapman."
OK, my several just dwindled down to two. The thought of Scorpius and Polly wearing stupid knitted hats made me smile for a moment.
"Ah yes, Polly's new plan to make Yann take her back." Louis sat across from me. "I am surprised. I thought Scorpius would be too smart to fall for that."
"Yes, well apparently when a world class beauty shows up, all brains go right in to the Black Lake." I sighed.
"He actually called her that?" Louis sounded surprised. "To YOU? Ouch. Sorry cousin."
Did everyone know that I maybe sort of, liked Scorpius as more than just my best friend? Except maybe Scorpius himself.
Or maybe he did know and he just didn't know how to let me down.
I decided to change the subject. "Why are you hiding down here in the doom and gloom of the dungeons, Louis?"
"These girls!" Louis sounded disgusted. "They hound me day and night to take them to this stupid Ball. Down here is the only place I can get some peace and quiet."
"Well then, just ask one already and be done with it." I mean the answer seemed so obvious to me!
"I can't just do that!" Louis looked miserable.
"Well, why not?" I shrugged. "Oh, I mean unless you like boys and then just ask a boy and be done with it."
"I do like to keep my options open." Louis grinned. "But no that's not it. I just want to make sure a girl likes me for me, and not because my parents are famous or because I am part vela."
"Yeah…" I teased. "It must be such a travesty to be handsome AND famous."
"Neither of which had anything to do with me." Louis shrugged. "My looks are genetic and my parents are famous. I am at best second generation famous."
"You are also smart and kind and a girl would be stupid not to like you just for yourself." I patted his arm.
"Thanks Lilliana. I just wish I could be sure." Louis gave me a lopsided grin. "And you are pretty amazing too. And if Scorpius doesn't notice that is his loss."
"Who says… I don't… why does everyone have this idea that my issue is jealousy?!" I mean it was absolutely jealousy but I wasn't telling Louis or anyone else that!
Louis just smirked at me. "Really?"
"Ok, maybe the wishing baldness on him sort of gave it away." I laughed at Louis comical grin. "But still, he DOESN'T notice, and right now it sort of feels like my loss."
Louis helped me gather my things. "Lilliana, not to sound insensitive, but you are so young and…"
"I do know that Louis." I looked down at my books. "But just at this particular moment in time I take no comfort in knowing that."
"No, I don't suppose you would." Louis smiled at me gently. "Still, third year is awfully young to be terribly worried about boys… Dumbledore… did I just sound exactly like my father?"
"A little bit." I grinned. "But thanks. I actually do feel a lot better now."
"Good!" Louis motioned towards the books. "Now how about telling me why you are studying such incredibly advanced potions."
I had forgotten not everyone knew I was entering the potion competition. I told Louis all about it on our way back upstairs.
"That is amazing!" Louis enthused. "I bet you win too! You are really smart!"
"Thanks Louis… the potions are tough but I like my chances so far." I mean you know, three years to go but still…
"Lils… can we talk?" I looked up to see the very worried face of Scorpius looking down at me.
"Sure Scorp." What was I supposed to say? He was still my best friend! "Talk to you later, Louis?"
"You bet. Let me know if you need any help!" Louis waved as he took off.
"Help with what?" Scorpius frowned after him.
"We were talking about the competition." I explained.
"Oh… right..." Scorpius hesitated. "About Polly…"
"What about her?" I asked carefully. Was this going to turn in to a whole thing about if I can't accept her then he won't be my friend anymore?
Scorpius looked at his feet. "Look, Albus explained everything…"
What had Albus done?! "He explained… what exactly?"
"You know about how much that trip in the future had really affected you because of Umbridge and all and how Polly was part of the whole thing and… well…" Scorpius hesitated.
So Albus hadn't been running around telling all of my not-so-secrets, "Right… well… I suppose."
"And I know she bullied you," he continued. "But you haven't been bothered by her in so long and I just thought it was no longer important. I know now I was wrong." He hurriedly added.
"What are you saying, Scorp?" I wasn't trying to hurry him but these books and potion ingredients were getting heavy.
Scorpius must have noticed my discomfort because he took all of my books out of my arms. I nodded my thanks and waited.
"Your friendship is more important to me than Polly will ever be." Scorpius looked at me pleadingly. "I told her the date was off. Friends again?"
"Friends… right… of course." I could feel my lips draw in to a hard line. "Yes of course we are friends Scorpius. Together, remember?"
"You sound angry still." Scorpius sounded nervous… and confused.
"I am not angry I am just…" I hesitated. I rarely lied to him. "OK, yes, I am angry but we are still friends. I promise."
Scorpius smiled but he still looked confused. I didn't blame him. I wasn't exactly explaining things.
...