Chapter 22 – Valentine's Day Part 4

- 14th of February 2022 -

Scorpius' POV:

Oh no.

I shoved Tremaine back a bit. She staggered back but remained on her feet. I ran past her and to where I had seen Rose. She wasn't there. I ran down the corridor after her. It only took a minute or two for me to catch up to her.

"Rose!" I called after her when I could see her.

Rose's POV:

I heard Scorpius call after me but I didn't want to talk to him or see him or look at him. My chest ached. My eyes stung. I forced my legs to run faster. Rose Weasley, you will not cry. Absolutely not. I tried to ignore it.

"Rose wait!" Scorpius shouted behind me.

Keep running. Don't look. Keep running. I suddenly felt someone grab my arm. I knew it was Scorpius. I stopped running and he let go of my arm. I looked at the ground with vigorous intensity. His shoes were scuffed and needed a shine. My hair fell in front of my face. I felt like it was the only thin wall that stood in between us and I was happy for it.

"Rose, please let me explain. It was a misunderstanding." Scorpius pleaded out of breath.

I remained silent. Swallowing was hard. It was as if I had swallowed a ball. And the words got stuck there too.

"It wasn't what it looked like," Scorpius continued when I didn't respond.

I took a deep breath. I put on what I hoped was a straight face. I looked up at him. He stood there, with those beautiful silver eyes, looking at me. The tears were harder to hold back. I had to go quickly before he saw me cry.

"Then, what was it? Wait I don't want to know. You don't have to explain yourself to me."

Scorpius clenched his fists. His voice was strangled, "You haven't even heard my side of the story yet."

I couldn't take it anymore. I ran back to the Gryffindor Common Room. The trip there was a blur through my watery vision and my mind, thinking of him.

I went straight up to my bed. I didn't want to talk to anyone. I just wanted to curl up in a cocoon of denial.

- 15th of February 2022 -

I woke up with a blocked nose and stinging dry eyes. Fie, the early riser, was up and about when she noticed I was awake. She came and sat on the end of my bed.

"Hey, we missed you yesterday at dinner. Are you ok?" Fie asked gently.

"I'm great," I said in a croaky voice and some forced enthusiasm, "I was tired, I'm ok now."

Fie's smile was straight with concern but she let us drop it, "Well no doubt you just need some food."

My thoughts drifted to the warmth of pancakes and the sweet lure of maple syrup. My stomach growled. I looked straight at Fie and we both laughed.

Mya who was next to us then vaguely mumbled, "Cream…" It appeared that she was sort of awake. We giggled. Fie hopped over and shook Mya awake. Mya groaned and started to get up to.

"Let's all go down and get some early breakfast." Fie bounced on the balls of her feet with a grin like the Cheshire cat.

"Sounds good." I started getting out of bed. The bonus of getting to breakfast before the rush. Today felt like it was going to be a good day.

"Yeah yeah," Mya replied while getting dressed.

It's Monday so on with the uniforms. Our way down to the Great Hall was thankfully quiet.

- Later in Potions -

Mya, Fie and I all walked into Potions but as soon as I walked over the threshold of that door I remembered who my partner was.

I used to know my place was a spot next to you but now I'm searching the room for an empty seat because lately I don't even know what page you're on.

– Taylor Swift Story of Us

Merlin damn it. I wanted to be anywhere else but here. I would even go and swim in the Black Lake in winter than be here. I wanted to run away, but my studious nature was determined to stay. I walked in, kept my eyes low and sat next to the Slytherin git. The short space between us was tense enough to have a repelling feel about it. We didn't look at each other. The trouble was that I did my best to focus in on the textbook in front of me, but I couldn't stop thinking about him. Was he angry with me? Why hasn't he said anything? I'm not going to reply even if he does. He doesn't know how I'm feeling. He should be the one to say something, he was in the wrong. I let out a sigh. I was going around on a nauseous merry-go-round in my head. I convinced myself to turn back to the class at hand and at least look like I'm learning something.

Professor Slughorn entered the classroom with an energetic, "Good morning everyone." He got his equipment set up at the front of the classroom and continued with the lesson. "Now class we're going to be studying the properties of Moonstone. Can anyone tell me the colour of Moonstone?"

No one raised their hand. I knew the answer so I raised my hand. "Yes, Miss Weasley."

"It's a pearly or milky white colour and they're shiny."

"Very good Miss Weasley, ten points to Gryffindor," Professor Slughorn acknowledged and continued with the lesson.

Before I knew it the class was over and I was frantically packing my stuff away then bolted from the classroom. I could have been the speed walking champion by the time I got to my next class. History of Magic thank Merlin.

The entire day I avoided any place that Scorpius would most likely be. Apart from the Library. As I walked into the Library with Mya and Fie, I looked carefully to make sure he wasn't in there.

"Rose? Who are you looking for?" Fie asked me with a slow voice.

I turned to face her straight away and replied, "Nobody."

"Rose it can't be nobody, you've been skittish all day. You even left in a hurry from Potions," Mya stated looking at me with one eyebrow raised.

"Uhhhh," I started but I didn't really have an answer for her.

"What happened with you and Scorpius?" Fie asked.

"Well, to put it simply he's a phoney stubborn arrogant slithering git." We sat down at a table at the far end of the library and both of my best friends gave me confused looks.

"What did he do?" Mya inquired.

"Yesterday I was going to the Slytherin common room and I rounded the corner to find him with Tremaine Cloves." Talking about it increased my frustration.

"Oh my Merlin, I knew I should have sent that girl to the Hospital Wing," Mya exclaimed.

"Wait, what are you talking about Mya." Fie asked.

"When Al and I were on our way back to the castle yesterday, Cloves was actually trying to seduce Al." Mya had balled her hands into fists and was almost growling with anger. "She doesn't know who she's messing with."

"So she flirted with both Al and Scorpius yesterday?" Fie asked with a thoughtful expression.

"Scorpius didn't seem like he was resisting her either." As I said the words my voice was brittle. I felt like my throat had closed up to stop the words from coming out. Because once I had said the words I had a twisted feeling in my stomach.

"Rose," Mya gruffly said.

I looked at Mya and she said with a completely straight face, "Do you want Scorpius to be taken by her?"

"No, but I have no say in what he does," I stated quickly.

"You like him though, don't you? In a romantic way?" Fie smirked as she knowingly asked.

"No of course not, we're just friends," I denied.

"If you don't catch him another girl will," Fie shrugged.

"I don't like him, end of the story," I stated as I pulled my book out to start my homework. Then Mya and Fie followed my lead soon after.

They are both wrong, I don't like him. I don't.

Narrator's POV:

For the next two weeks Rose was dodging Scorpius everywhere she went. They didn't speak to each other. Rose was hurt and confused about why she was even hurting in the first place. They weren't dating so why should he have to explain himself to her. She chose denial, it was easier after all. Easier to pretend there was no elephant in the room.

Oh a simple complication, miscommunications lead to fall out...How'd we end up this way? You see me pulling at my clothes trying to look busy.

- Taylor Swift Story of Us

Scorpius didn't handle it any better. He was angry at Rose. For avoiding him. For not listening to his side of the story. But he was missing her chatty matter-of-fact nature and the way she was entirely clumsy at times. He wasn't sure why he felt that he had to explain what really happen to her, but he felt that he did.

So many things I wish you knew, so many walls up I can't break through...and you're doing your best to avoid me.

- Taylor Swift Story of Us

- 1st March 2022 -

Albus' POV:

I was the first one up out of the five of us. I liked to start the day early especially when normally there aren't people up and about. As I was going through my morning routine I noticed Scorp had a book open and resting on his stomach. Scorp and I had been friends since the beginning and that's how I know he probably couldn't get to sleep so he pulled out a book. I sighed.

Rose and Scorp haven't been on talking. I think it's really getting to Scorp, he's stressed about what happened – whatever it was that happened. I guess we'll have to see how it plays out, they can't avoid it or each other forever. It also means that Rose tends to avoid breakfast because Scorp usually sits with us. As I spend a lot of time with Scorp it also means she's indirectly avoiding me too. I sighed again. What to do with those two.

Today should be good for Scorp because we have Quidditch practice. It's like Uncle Ron says: 'A man needs his sport'. I gave Scorp a kick and he woke up surprisingly.

"hmmm, what are you doing Al?" Scorp groaned, "it's the crack of fucking dawn."

"The WBBC meeting, remember?" I stated.

Scorpius rolled over and mumbled incoherently.

"James will be on your ass all day about it." I countered while putting on my robe.

Scorp groaned again but did get up this time.

Once we were both ready, we left the dorm room and were passing through the common room when Tremaine showed up out of nowhere. That was creepy.

"Scorpius and Al, what a coincidence, good morning," Tremaine said with a sickly honeyed voice.

I glanced at Scorp who looked angry and turned back to Tremaine. "Yes good morning."

"Oh I just wanted to let you know that on Friday night there'll be a party here in the common room and the password will be 'Silverhorn', anyway ta ta for now sweetie's." Tremaine then left without a word of good bye.

We continued on our way down the fairly empty corridors. "Did something happen between you and Tremaine? Is that the reason you and Rose aren't talking?"

"It sort of is, but that's not the reason we're not talking, just the cause of it."

"So, let my guess, Tremaine was hitting on you, Rose saw and it all went to hell?" I commented pretty sure I was right.

"That's it," Scorp sighed.

"Well, the only way to fix it Scorp is to talk to her. That's all I'll say on it."

We got to the Great Hall and started to have breakfast. There were the usual early risers around but that peace was short lived and the whole castle seemed to wake up.

By the time I was on my last piece of toast, Mya and Fie walked into the Hall. I noticed in that moment that Mya's silky blond hair had grown quite a bit longer and was no longer at her shoulders. The colours had started to fade but I knew that she'd dye them again.

"Hello guys," Mya greeted and gave me a quick kiss. I thought as she sat down, Merlin she's beautiful.

"Hey there," Fie calmly said sitting opposite Mya and I. Scorpius gave a nod.

"Where's Rose?" I inquired.

Fie and Mya exchanged looks and Mya replied, "Still coming down."

I nodded in response. I hoped she would stay for breakfast because I hadn't seen her in a while.

Rose walked in with her usual grumpy morning face and I was relieved that she seemed to be acting normal – excluding when she's in Scorp's presence.

"Rosie Posie, It's been a while." I greeted Rose and got a glare – which I expected of course.

"Hey Al, why so cheerful at this early hour," Rose grumbled and she sat down opposite Scorp.

"Well because today feels like it'll be a good day. And besides I have my wonderful girlfriend with me, my day just keeps getting better." I smiled at Mya who blushed and smiled.

"Ugh." Rose rolled her eyes and started making her breakfast. I noticed that Scorp glanced at Rose a couple of times and Rose glanced at Scorp when he wasn't looking.

"So are you guys going to the party Friday night?" Mya asked Scorp and me.

"How did you know about it? Tremaine only just told us about it," I questioned curiously. Mya's face had a split second expression of anger but then it was back to normal.

"There's a rumour going around,"

"Ahh I see, did you girls want to go? I'm sure it'll be a pretty open party." I asked them.

"Sure," Mya replied.

"Why not," Fie said.

"No." Rose didn't even look up.

"You also didn't answer my question," Mya pouted.

"Well I am if you want to go, how about you Scorp?" I turned to Scorp who shrugged.

"Actually I think I'll go," Rose said suddenly.