"Have you seen, Scorp?" Abby said, taking a break from pulling faces at Pumpkin.
"If I had seen him I wouldn't be watching and waiting for him." I stared out into the corridor of the Hogwarts Express more intensely wishing him to appear.
"So he could be dead, on Mars-"
"Or in Durmstrang. That's one of the many threats his father put out there."
"Draco Malfoy has an iron rod up his butt." Abby scowled. "We should've broken into the pureblood headquarters and rescued Scorpius."
"Yeah," I said, dryly. "And I would kiss him and transform the world-"
"No, ew, Rose. We would join hands and sing a song that would magically fix the situation." Abby took a deep breath and started singing. "Let's join hands around the fire, retire and inspire-"
Kenny shut his book with a snap. He and Abby shared a look.
"I can sing." Abby voiced.
Kenny cleared his throat. "There's no need because I saw Scorpius."
"What?" I frowned. "Why didn't you tell us?"
"It wasn't important." Kenny shrugged.
"Well, it's important now."
"Because Abby started singing."
"Give me a play by play."
"Yeah," Abby added. "3-D and everything."
"It's not really any of our businesses-"
"It is!" Abby and I protested in sync.
Kenny winced, probably wishing he hadn't said anything and let Abby continue on with her song. "He didn't look happy. He was with Goyle and the Slytherins-"
Abby cursed and Pumpkin hissed. I, however, clasped my hands on my lap calmly. Scorpius was Scorpius. He was probably going to show up at any second and sweep me off my feet, a box of Bertie Bott's in hand.
"They've kidnapped him!" Abby exclaimed, jumping up. "We have to rescue him. It's like when Kenny was taken hostage by Longford all over again."
The tips of Kenny's ears reddened.
"No, that's a completely different situation." Kenny shook his head. "But I did wave, I got no wave back."
I chewed my lip. "And?"
"That's it," And with that, he returned to his book.
"For Merlin's sake," I said. "Scorpius should've kept his mouth shut about us. I've been on edge all freaking mid-term, I want to see him and make sure Dinky isn't writing those letters to make me feel better."
"Off we go then." Abby moved to the door. "The first adventure of the term is happening."
"Abby," Kenny said.
"What?" Abby put her hands on her hips. "You coming too?"
"No, I don't nose in other people's personal lives," Kenny said. "I just want to warn you. Be careful… the Slytherin side of the train is sketchy, I've heard."
"Aw!" Abby cooed. "He cares about me."
"No I don't," Kenny grumbled."All I care about is my copy of 'Famous Unicorns' I let you borrow."
Abby rolled her eyes. "Don't you want to find him?" She raised an eyebrow at me.
"Obviously," I said, standing up. "But what if he has a plan-"
And Abby was already out the door and down the corridor. I tugged at my Slytherin-in-disguise-scarf nervously and followed.
"Listen to me, Abby," I called after her, catching up to her quick. "We have to consider the possibilities. What's your plan?"
"We rescue the damsel in distress."
I crossed my arms. "My plan is we watch him from afar and try to catch his eye."
I looked into every compartment we passed still not believing Scorpius was hiding out in Slytherin territory. Abby stopped dead at the Slytherin section of the train.
"Have you ever been in there?" I asked, looking through the small glass window in the door. I took a deep breath, I could see no hint of blonde just a murky sea of brown and green.
"Once," Abby sighed. "During our first trip on the Hogwarts Express. I got lost and kicked out by the Slytherin quidditch captain. He called me a mudblood, I thought that was the wizarding term for idiot. So as anyone would've done I bit his hand. There was blood."
"Good for you," I said, looking again. It was dark with a greenish tinge, maybe they had mood lighting in there. "Do you think there's a password?"
Abby nudged the door open. It squeaked. "No."
"I think the general aura says it all 'stay away.'"
Abby stepped in and I hesitantly followed. Unlike the rest of the train, the 'Slytherin' section wasn't divided into private compartments instead everything was out in the open like a tightly compact restaurant.
The first two tables on either side fell silent and glared at us. My red hair and Abby's rainbow cat jumper (that I was totally going to borrow later) clearly set us apart.
"We should've taken polyjuice," I whispered.
Abby shrugged. "Haters gonna hate and snakes gonna slither. Where the hell's Scorp?"
I peered over the Slytherin heads, right at the very end with his back to us was my boyfriend Scorpius Malfoy with about three other Slytherins that looked younger than him. Of course, he was as far away as possible. I squinted, the lighting was really off, making him look... Dracoish.
"Let's do this quickly and quietly," I said, quickly before Abby could cause a scene. Maybe I should've owled him.
Neither one of those things was about to happen. A Slytherin sixth or seventh year, much taller and gruffer than Scorpius with permanently flared nostrils blocked our path.
I sighed. Abby tapped her foot impatiently.
"Lost little first years?" he jeered.
"No," I frowned.
Abby shrilled. "Excuse me!" trying to move around him but it was impossible.
I reached for my wand.
"Get out." He snapped.
"Or what?" Abby challenged. "Are you going to sit on us?"
"Is that an invitation?"
Ew.
A guy that looked like he had just stepped out of a Witch Weekly perfume ad called. "Ah, no, Peters, that's pervy! What are you? A pedo?" the table descended into laughter. It spread to the rest of the cabin a blink later.
And that's when I met Scorpius' eyes around the giant. He had finally turned around and he was frowning. I frowned back at him. I realised that it wasn't just the light playing tricks on me, his hair was slicked back, the way he hated it and his robes looked ironed. No smile.
I wasn't focused on what Abby was screeching at the giant. It took the feeling of a wand at my neck to snap me out of it. Crap.
I pushed it away, lightning fast, it clattered to the train floor with a shower of sparks. There was a chorus of 'ooohs.'
"Come on, Abby, they're not worth it." I snapped, grabbing Abby by the elbow.
"You're not." A familiar voice said. It was my sweet cousin, Albus. He was standing on a table looking down at us. "Malfoy, sit down you're embarrassing yourself. He's trying to protect his mudblood girlfriend, isn't that just precious?"
"Yucky," Abby scowled. "Scorp's my friend and you're a whiny brat."
Potter beamed. "The mudblood is the best type of whore. She doesn't even acknowledge beating the hippogriff in an alley in Godric's Hollow."
I went red.
Abby screamed. "Liar, liar pants on fire!"
Scorpius appeared somehow- the giant Slytherin fell down, his entire body frozen- wand in hand. He didn't look impressed or happy to see either of us. There was a loud jeering cheer.
"Use protection." Disgusting Potter called.
Scorpius was whiter than I had ever seen him before. I could feel his anger radiating off him.
He grabbed my arm. I flinched at his grip, tight on my upper arm. Scorpius led me out of the Slytherin part of the train, dragging Abby along by the collar of her jumper.
As soon as the door shut behind us it was like stepping into a different world. It felt quieter and simpler.
I grinned up at him. He didn't grin back.
Abby sighed, "Thank God, that's over."
I matched his look. "Let go of my arm," I said coolly.
He released my arm. "We need to talk."
"Yeah, we do," Abby said, flipping her hair.
"Me and Rose." He added. "Alone."
"No," Abby said. "You've clearly gone into Slytherin-"
"Abby, " I pleaded. She softened.
"But-"
"Please."
"Maybe."
"I'll tell you everything later."
"Ew. Not everything." She sighed. "I'll be with Kenny if you need me."
We watched her walk away for a long moment before either of us said anything.
"Smile?" I asked.
He frowned.
"For me please," I said, touching the sleeve of his cloak cautiously.
He hesitantly gave me a grin. Not sparkling but getting there.
"I have to keep up appearances." He stated.
I shook my head. "Not if you don't want to. Your hair looks ridiculous by the way."
That got a proper smile out of him. "Come on let's find a free compartment."
"I missed you," I said falling into pace with him.
"I missed you too,"
"Then explain why you've Slithered-up."
"My father is the answer to that." He said. "He told me today he'll leave me alone for a while as long as I make a good impression with the rest of the Slytherins. It's embarrassing for him."
I laughed nervously. "And I just ruined it."
"Hey, you can't ruin anything, Rosie." He replied, pulling at a strand of my hair affectionately.
"Then why are you so cold?"
"Because I'm confused, I don't know what to do or who to be… I can't even piece together what I want to do."
"There's too much to consider," I added in for him, brushing my hand against his.
"Yeah," he said, his eyebrows coming together. "And suddenly it isn't about us."
A first year looked up at us terrified, before walking back down the corridor, head down. Scorpius and I didn't bat an eyelash. Things were turning to dung anyway.
"I don't regret going to your house- manor- though."
"Here's a free one," Scorpius said, putting his hand on the small of my back. He guided me into the free compartment. It was suddenly more enclosed and personal. If we didn't shout no one but the two of us would know what was about to be said.
"Do you?" I asked as he shut the door.
"No, Rosie, if I could sneak you into the Slytherin dorm I would." His expression turned softer.
I pulled out my wand, with a small mutter and a downwards motion all the blinds shut leaving us in darkness. The only light was a sliver coming through the gap in the window blinds, it cut Scorpius' face in half.
"I can't decide what to do. Play it safe with my father's rules or spite him."
"Play it safe," I said instantly.
"But I'm sick of playing it safe, Rose. My life, your life, our lives are dictated by other people. I talk to you more than I talk to anyone else, I only kiss you, it's not fair."
I sat down. "Lumos," I muttered. I could see Scorpius clearly now. He sighed and sat down beside me, burying his head into my shoulder, taking deep long breaths.
"Merlin, your hair is horrible," I said. "Let me fix it."
"Your vanity getting the better of you?" his voice was muffled into my neck, it tickled.
I smiled shyly. "Never, Scorpie, I just want to make one thing fair."
