"Rose" Al said. She didn't bother to respond. "Rose!" He said again. She finally looked at him.
"Rose, I know that you are all right but you make me worried a little bit" he said to her. She give him questioning look. "I know you are focus on your studies" he said. She thought: Right, I spent on learning like hour a day, you learn more. "and you practice Quidditch all the time because of our next match with Slytherins" Yes, I'm attending Quidditch practice. I do not want to lose.
"Al, I understand. You are worried that I would over-explore myself" she concluded for him.
"Exactly. You don't have to work for school so hard. Learning, quidditch and prefects patrols aren't the only things in the world. Do something else" He said.
"Al, I know" She smiled at him. "Don't worry, I'm perfectly fine" But she added in her mind: If you knew. My back is still aching after this 3 broken ribs that Malfoy hit in the morning and I fixed.
Rose thought that it was funny that he assumed her being tired is for hard work. Well, It was hard work in a way. She was working hard to kick Malfoy's ass. Several times a day. Still she never thought that probably she should stop.
Finally, the first Quidditch match this year Slytherin versus Gryffindor were about to start.
"Scared?" Rose asked Scorpius
"Me? About you? In your dreams" he answered.
"But don't cry. I wouldn't know what to do with crying boy. I would even start feeling pity towards you" she smirked.
"I don't cry. I haven't cried when I was literally burning when you set me on fire. You should be careful not to burst into tears"
"Me crying? Over you? You wish" She said. He stepped closer and got hold of her chin to stare into her eyes.
"Don't try Sweetheart. I would never dream about you. I don't even have nightmares about you, which is kind of surprising. Ah, maybe it's because you are nightmare in a day. We don't care about each other. I don't think I would catch you if today you fall from your broom" he said and pushed her head away.
"Lucky for you, I don't fall" she ended conversation walking away.
The match was nasty. Scorpius was doing everything to score as many times as it was possible. Rose was better than him. She saved 3 out of 5 of his shots. Hogwards students has never seen more fierce fight on broom. It was long match and finally Albus and Gregory were heading after Snitch. Every breath was hold until Gregory shouted: "Złapałem" No one get it as he shouted it unconsciously in polish. So people at stands were looking at him waiting. "Oh, c'mon, It's polish language not marsianish" he shouted to his school. He showed them his fist with small ball. Then they started laughing and cheering at Slytherin's victory.
Scorpius was laughing also at his friend's behavior. Gregory from time to time complained that he can't use polish here in Hogwards, and speak only polish with his family at home. He murmured something about being confused.
Scorpius was happy that they won but. There was always but. But Rose personally was better than him. He couldn't avoid her forever. He flew into her direction. She was several meters away but slightly higher. She looked at him from above. She loosed but she was better than him. He won but she saved more goals than he scored.
Scorpius didn't have time to shout. Lily Potter, small still strong beater of Gryffindor was upset about losing. One of Bludgers was flying nearby and she hit it carelessly. She wasn't even thinking about what she is doing. Unfortunately, Rose was close, too close. Scorpius saw the bludger hitting back of Rose's head, precisely in the middle. She lost consciousness and fall from her broom.
Scorpius acted on impulse. He sprint down and caught her. He hold her in front of him on his broom and quickly landed. Her head was bleeding. He took her in his arms more comfortably and shouted to Gregory who was running to them: "take care of her broom"; then he hopped back on his broom and flew to castle to The Hospital Wing.
Madam Pomfrey took one look at Rose in Scorpius arms with her head leaned on his chest and blood on his quiddtich robes.
"Quickly, put her in this bed" she run over and started casting healing spells.
"Such a relief. She only fainted. She had only minor concussion. She would have big headache, I'm afraid" she said with faint smile. "But there is another thing that make me worried. Her body is fixed with healing spells"
"What do you mean?" said Albus who with rest of his family arrived to The Hospital Wing.
"Her body is healed with healing charms but it wasn't done by me" she explained.
Scorpius eyes opened widely. He looked at Gregory with question of what to do.
"I guess she must have done it herself" said Ryuu "We all know she is such a hard worker. She must have overdo quidditch practice and she didn't want anyone to stop her so she fixed it herself"
Lily nodded her head: "This sound like her. She will be fine, right? How could I do it? What were I thinking?" she lowered her head with shame.
"It was accident. Lils don't blame yourself. Although, for Merlin sake, you are strong. Girl, my head hurts" Rose said now fully awake.
"You are all right?" she hugged her.
"As perfect as I can be" she smiled and hugged her back.
"You've seen her alive, so go and give her rest. There are too many of Weasleys here. Go, give girl rest" they all said goodbyes and unhappy walked out of the room.
"Mr Malfoy come here. I will clean your robes. You don't want to walk around looking like this" she said to him. He nodded and come closer. Gregory stopped and came back but everybody else walked away. She pointed her wand at him and blood started vanishing. When he was clean she flicked her wand again. Then raised her eyebrows.
"Where you practicing Quidditch with Miss Weasley?" she asked doubtfully.
"Well, actually yes" he answered lying. Rose looked at him confused.
"With fire?" Ms Pomfrey crossed her arms.
"I assure you, that is a long and very funny story. You don't want to hear it. You wouldn't believe me any way. But we are fine" he smiled a little bit afraid that they would have trouble.
"I would believe your judgment" she send him knowing glance and walked into her office.
"What was that?" Rose asked him.
"Nothing. She only discovered that you patched us up with magic after ours 'quidditch practice'" he said putting sarcasm while saying practice.
"Shit" she said. "But we don't have to worry. My mum came here once, half turned into cat. She didn't asked questions then she won't know"
"How?" asked Gregory.
"Wrong usage of the Polyjuice Potion" she answered honestly.
"Why she needed it?" Gregory continued to ask.
"She was spying someone with my father and Harry. She brewed it in Martle's bathroom" she smiled at that idea.
"In bathroom. Nice one. Who were they spying?" Gregory was curious. Rose looked at Scorpius. She didn't answered this one.
"Why are you looking at me?" he asked. Then he understood. "They were spying my father, didn't they"
"Yes. They thought that he would know how was behind attacks back then" Rose answered.
"That is normal. We are the bad ones, so we know all the bad things" he hissed at her.
"Right. You are so noble" she snapped back with sarcasm.
"Well, I caught you and bring you here today, so I guess I'm pure evil like my father is" he said.
Rose started laughing. "Haven't you said that you wouldn't catch me even if I fail? Like today before match"
"So what I was supposed to do?"
"Maybe look at me happily, when I hit the ground and dye. That's my opinion of what would you do. No one asked you to save my. Thank you and all of other things. Now I can tell this story to my parents and explain to them that they were wrong to spy on your father. My mum is muggle-born. And muggle-born were missing. And your father hated muggle-borns, which he said to my Mum on several occasion. I guess he still hates them now "
"He don't" that was all he responded.
"Like I would believe" she hissed. She was trying to kill him with only her stare. She opened her mouth to say something but he interrupted: "Don't you dare to say that"
"What? You don't want me to say that you also hate muggle-borns" she moved closer to him from her position on her bed.
"I don't hate muggle-borns" he said baldly.
"I would never believe you that" she said hatefully.
"Then don't. You are the one who is intolerant here. Listen to me this time. I hate you. Do you understand that? You are one of the reasons why I have more on my shoulders than the rest of this mumbling students here. I hate you. And Merlin save me from thinking that one day we would came to agreement. I used to, you know? Now I'm thinking that I shouldn't have saved you. Today, or in the room of requirement. I shouldn't have blocked that fire from hitting you and taking it at my back. So don't be afraid, I won't make that mistake again. I hope we could never see again" he shouted the last sentence and stormed out.
Ms Pomfrey, who in the middle of argument came out only shook her head with disapproval, came back saying: "Kids..."
Rose was breathing heavily with anger. Gregory scratched his head, not knowing what to do.
"Rose..." he started but she stopped him. "Don't try"
"Rose, this is important" she looked at him questionably: "Nothing you say won't change my opinion of him"
He sighed "It will. Rose his is not hating muggle-borns. Nor is his father"
"What make you so sure?"
"I was several time in Malfoy Manor and his parents like me. They even invited my parents several times" he admitted.
"And...?" she asked still not getting what he implied.
"Rose, you still don't understand? I am muggle-born"
Her mouth dropped open and she cover it with her hands, finally understanding whole situation.
"How long does he know?" she asked after first shock passed.
"Since we said hi in the first year? Since the beginning" he answered.
Rose lowered her head. Gregory was walking out but turned around to look at her. He spotted single tear on her cheek. She felt that this time they crossed the line. The coin, that is on its edge, is supposed to fall to one side. Only this time it rolled completely away.
Autor's note: We are finally getting close to 7th year when the main action takes place. So all of this was for background building.
