Author's Note: This chapter is told from Scorpius' perspective.
I stayed in Ravenclaw tower late into the evening. It was the most fun I had in a common room in... Okay, it was the first time I had actual fun in a common room. After a charm reboot from Rose, Kenny and I went down to the common room. Lily wanted everything else to be a surprise for tomorrow.
We played Exploding Snap by the roaring fire and talked about quidditch and other very manly things such as ice cream flavours. Rose and Abby eventually returned from the boy's dorm after being kicked out by the actual boys. In return, Lily kicked them right back out. They were rubbing glitter out of their eyes as they stumbled down the stairs.
Rose, back in her ordinary robes, threw herself beside me more than happy to rest her head on my shoulder in public when I was in disguise.
"Pumpkin really likes you," Rose remarked gesturing to her cat who had followed me into the common room and decided to drape its heavy body over my legs and fall asleep. I didn't know cats snored until Pumpkin came along. His snores mimicked a train. "And Pumpkin only tolerates most people. This is a whole new level."
"He's fallen for me like you have." I grinned stroking her hair which was even softer than it looked. Lily wasn't around to snap at me, I could touch her hair all I wanted.
"Oh, please, don't flatter yourself." She laughed.
"What are you wearing tomorrow?" I asked. "Lily seems obsessed with it."
"You'll have to wait and see,"
"For Merlin's sake that's hours away. Your hair is still nice enough."
"'Nice enough' my hair is the bloody bomb." She protested.
"No more 'it' then."
"For now,"
"You should do this every day."
"Ugh, no thanks, you saw how long that took. I'd miss breakfast and the first three periods if I did this every day. I miss your blonde hair." Rose said. "It was a nice colour and made you easy to spot in crowds."
"Rosie, this is the best feeling in the world. I'm here and no one gives two-"
"Hi, Rose!" I followed Rose's glare to behind us. The owner of the sickeningly sweet voice was a Ravenclaw girl I vaguely recognised from my days of being a pricky Slytherin. The girl who used to trail around with Abby and Rose. I immediately ducked my head and Rose face palmed me trying to hide me. The only thing that did was shoot pain through my tender nose.
"Hello, Jane," Rose greeted in a false cheery voice. She sat up shifting in front of me.
"I see there's no need for my matchmaking here," Jane grinned trying to inch closer.
I pulled Pumpkin into my arms. Ignoring his wiggling protests I hid my face in his never ending fur. Rose, trying to look casual, petted Pumpkin's head.
"What? Oh, yeah, no need."
"Really? Because you two look awfully close."
"Yeah, this is my… boyfriend."
"I thought you didn't have time for boys?"
"I said that because I already have a boyfriend. I only need one man in my life."
"You said, several times,-"
Abby jumped in to save the day, "They were friends with benefits before that. Don't you have Longford's shoes to shine or something?"
Jane exhaled loudly, "Who is he then? I don't think I've seen him in the Ravenclaw common room before."
"Hufflepuff." Rose blurted out. Great, that was the furthest house from my own. The thick cat hairs were starting to get into my mouth. "He's incredibly shy and doesn't speak English."
There was a pause.
"And how many languages do you know, Rose?" Jane said in accusing voice.
"Jane, why are you being so insensitive?" Abby jumped in again. "Rose is fluent five languages including German."
Rose laughed nervously, "Yes, sure am. We met in the potions club, where we had a Germanic connection, sparks and everything. He's in the year above and is picky about the company he keeps."
"He's a prince, Jane," Abby added in unable to help herself. "Wizarding royalty. He's going to inherit a kingdom and a vast fortune when he turns seventeen. He's so pure… blood there's a danger of it clotting his veins. He's already asked Rose to marry him. It's going to be such an extravagant wedding. It'll take four years of planning though, shame."
I stifled a laugh into Pumpkin's fur. Rose was on edge next to me but I was too disbelieved that this was actually happening to care.
"Then what's he doing at Hogwarts?" Jane snapped.
"He's blessing the simpletons with his presence. Example: you."
Jane rolled her eyes, "What's his name? I should know it. The whole school should know it."
"He's very private," Rose explained. "He doesn't even live on the grounds."
But Abby said loud and proud, "He's name is Hans Gruber Frankfurt Jr the fifteen."
"Abby!" Rose hissed.
"I'll ask Eric if he heard of this Hans Gruber."
"Do," Abby beamed. "No offence, to Hans but I wouldn't trade being muggle-born for anything in the world."
"Nice hair, by the way, Rose, it's nice to see German royalty has given you taste."
Rose laughed sarcastically, "I know, a girl in a million. Out of all the girls in the school he chose me. I'm going to blow the whole world away on my throne. Abby and I will write to you from the royal court." Rose planted a kiss on my cheek with force.
"And Kenny," Abby added in. "He's coming to. We've all gotten matched up with royalty thanks to Hans Gruber."
"Friendship really is an unbreakable bond. Right, Jane?" Rose grinned pulling my face away from the cat. She smashed her lips into mine to rub her point in. I wrapped my arms around her warm body and kissed her back even harder. Merlin, rubbing in lies was fun. Poor Pumpkin was involuntarily sandwiched between us.
"Guys!" Abby yelled. "You can stop now she's gone!"
Rose giggled and hesitantly pulled away. She rested her head on my shoulder, her face red from all the commotion.
Abby sighed uncovering her eyes, "Thank God, that lasted like twenty minutes. I never thought I would be forced to see that. Kenny, quick do you have holy water on you? I need to rinse out my eyes."
"No," Kenny answered. "But have fun dealing with the wildfire you just started."
"It's Jane. No one but her jealous mind would believe it was anything other than a joke." Rose said. "But you could've said he was a normal Hufflepuff."
"What fun would that be?" Abby shrugged.
Kenny sighed, "You're drawing attention to his presence. Where has your Ravenclaw brain gone?"
"I should be going, anyway, it's getting late," I said suddenly aware of Jane's group stares. "Get off, Pumpkin." The lazy cat had returned to his position on my legs, happily dozing by the heat of the fire. I lifted him off of my legs.
"I wish you wouldn't," Rose said getting up with me. "It's way more fun with you around."
"I wish I didn't have to, but curfew."
"I'll walk you out," Rose said, her hand slipping into mine.
"Night, Hans Gruber Frankfurt Jr the fourteenth!" Abby waved. Kenny laughed into his sleeve when he thought no one was looking.
"The fifteenth! Bye." I replied heading out the door of the Ravenclaw common room with Rose.
"Your hair's turning back to blonde," Rosie commented. She started shivering once we got out into the chilly corridor.
"Good," I replied. "And your hair still as beautiful as ever."
Rose gave me a shy smile. She led me by the hand down into a corridor.
"How's your nose?" She asked sitting down on a stone window sill. It was a full moon outside. The light from the moon shone through the stain glass window and made her glow.
"Fine," I answered touching my nose checking for bumps and blood. All clear. "Back to normal, I think."
"I'm worried that Al-Potter will do it again." She admitted taking a look my nose. "Or worse."
"He caught me off guard, Rosie, it won't happen again," I said sitting down beside her. Rose threw her legs over my lap like it was second nature, my face suddenly felt hot.
"I hope not or I'll write to Aunt Ginny and Uncle Harry." She stated firmly.
I laughed at her stubbornness, "And write what? 'Potter punched Malfoy. He's the last person in the castle I want punched. I know this because P.S he's my boyfriend. P.P.S don't tell anyone.'"
"It would be a lot longer than that, there would be a lot harsher adjectives used and a photo as proof." She smirked smugly. "Be careful though. I want your face the way it is for Hogsmeade."
"What time am I meeting you?" I asked. I knew the answer to this but I couldn't help but change the subject, I wanted to talk about happy things.
"Eleven," she said. "At the front door. Don't be late."
"I was planning on being fashionably late." I raised my eyebrows at her teasingly. I pulled her closer by her waist leaving not an inch of space between us.
"Where are we going to go?" She asked still beaming up at me.
I grinned as the response formed in my head, "Somewhere quiet so we can do this." I muttered kissing her again slowly and softly, not like in the common room like we had all the time in the world.
