Disclaimer: I am not JK Rowling, nor do I own Harry Potter. All ideas are my own.
"Father"
A curt response. A cold one. Instantly by the tone of his voice I can tell what he's thinking, what he's feeling. In fact his beating heart against my still chest tells me all I need to know.
One. Two. Three. Sounds of steps coming forward. Sharp steps. Meaningful. Steps that tell a thousand words. Steps that let me know the intentions.
Do I run?
No.
That would only make it worse. Besides, this is the moment I've been waiting for. The moment we've both been waiting for.
We.
It feels weird to say that. Stupid even. Ridiculous to even think that once we were a him and I. Two strangers in a crowded room. And now here we are, an us, we.
No. I will stay, prepared as I have always been. Prepared to do this. I knew this moment was going to happen at some point, and although this isn't the exact meeting I was hoping for, it's now or never.
So without even thinking, before there is even a chance for Scorpius to reply, I step in.
"Hello Mr Malfoy."
A what-should-be-haunting silence is all that greets me. But for some reason the usual Malfoy effect of sending chills down my spine doesn't happen. Instead I'm greeted by a weird quiteness, a strange once, but one that happens to just make sense.
I can sense Scorpius's eyes burning into the back of my head, questioning me, asking me what the hell it is I think I'm doing. Over me I feel a look exchanged, look between piercing blue and steely grey, but a look of confusion, not anger.
My outstretched hand lingers in the air, waiting for a response, and just as I go to retract it, my warm palm meets a cold one.
"Ah, you must be Miss Weasley. Yes, I've heard a lot about you."
His eyes dance with words better left unsaid. Gleeful almost, intriguing.
It's strange. This whole situation is completely strange, weird, and just so complex.
Everything that I expected Mr Malfoy to be has just shattered before me, as if he's hit a bludger through a sheet of glass, and I've watched all the pieces scatter at my feet, while all I can do is look dumbfounded.
Cold, evil, cunning, yes, those were all words used in association with the Malfoy family. But such words that I now don't believe to be true.
I'm saying this as if we've had a long meaningful conversation, and of course we've only shared 2 sentences, but inside I'm kicking myself for passing judgement on someone I'd never met.
I almost feel my mum's voice niggling away at me, reminding me that "you should never judge a book by it's cover Rosie, nor it's reviews. It's what you make of it when you turn the pages that matters".
So here I am, in front of my ex-arch enemy and his father, turning the pages, not knowing how this story is going to end.
"Father, please", Scorpius interrupts icily, "You make it sound as if I talk about her all the time. Why would I ever do such a thing?"
Snapping my eyes at his I'm met with a warning glare. I can tell what he's doing here, pretending that we're still enemies to keep his father's heart at ease, before we tell him of our dire situation. His eyes burn with the sparks of a flame, begging me not to ignite it.
"If you say so Scorpius", Mr Malfoy answers, chuckling to himself. "You don't have to deny anything to me, from what I've just seen Miss Weasley has become more than just the annoying chatterbox in Potions. Yes, if I dare say she is now so much as your dance partner."
As much as it should hurt me that Scorpius has chatted shit about me to his dad, it doesn't, and for one I'm not surprised. I don't half chew my parents ear off when I'm back home with tales of my hatred for Scorpius.
"Please Sir, call me Rose", I cut in, directing the attention away from a topic I don't care to hear anymore about.
"Well then please call me Draco", he replies.
Although his tone is cold and curt, his eyes seem warm, and dare I say friendly. Almost as if one day they were lit too with a flame, a flame that burned brightly, perhaps it was even a fire. But a flame that has been extinguished, and left, now merely burning a faint glow, embers of a once roaring passion.
I hope that never happens to Scorpius. I hope he never loses that flame, the flame I find myself lost in numerous times a day.
"Well as much as it is lovely to finally meet you", Draco continues, "I would like to catch up with my son if possible Rose. I'm sure we'll meet again very soon"
Fair enough. A pleasant dismissal. But one that simply cannot take place, not when I think about the task at hand.
Glancing over at Scorpius, I try to convey that urgent message. God, I wish I was a Legilimens right now.
But luckily, he seems to understand me, I must read as panicky and nervous, I don't want to be the one to stand up to Draco, and if anything it should be Scorpius, seeing as it's his father.
"Actually Father, there is something we need to discuss, and Rose needs to be here"
I'm glad he's the one to say it, his voice is strong and confident, so unlike how mine would be now that we're finally coming down to this.
Raising one pointed eyebrow, he turns to his son, and addresses him in an almost surprised manner.
"Is that so? I wondered how long it would take before..."
"Rose has Mum's ring on", Scorpius interrupts, "Rose has Mum's ring on, and we can't get it off, we've tried anything and we just can't do it. We need your help."
Well. Whatever Draco was expecting, I can tell by the stunned, startled look on his face that it certainly wasn't that.
"So you just put the ring on?", Draco asks, well really tells me, in disbelief, "Did your parents, your parents out of all people, never teach you to check for curses before you put on a random object?"
After a good 10 minutes of silence, Draco was finally in a state to talk. Yes, we needed to sit him down and yes, we had to find him a Firewhiskey, but we've managed to get him to listen all the same.
And surprisingly, even after explaining the story of how I've got the ring and how Scorpius lost it, he's taking it quite well. Well, as well as he can, if he knows anything about this ring he'll know that I can't get it off, so it's not exactly like he can get too mad about it, after all, argument or not, I still have the ring.
Of course, I leave out the part explaining that his late wife has been writing be messages from beyond the grave, as I myself don't even know what to think about that, and I'm not the one with a recently deceased wife.
Speaking of, given Astoria's last letter, in which she said that she wouldn't be surprised if Draco tried to accuse me of stealing her ring, I'm even more shocked that he's taking this so well.
So far however, we're no further into trying to get this off. Draco is yet to say anything more than asking me about putting the ring on, but I hope in time he will begin to give us answers.
"Yes. I know it was stupid, and reckless, and idiotic", I begin, ignoring Draco's mutter of "you can say that again"
"But I've done it now, the ring is on, and it's not coming off. So please, do you know anything, or have anything at all that could help us with this?"
Scorpius continues my line of thinking, aiding me with my plea.
"We know one thing father, and that's the fact that this is not entirely just a ring. We know it's gone through Quod Absconditum. But from there we know no more. Please Dad."
The change from father to dad has not slipped my mind, nor has Scorpius's pleading tone.
Until now, I've never quite thought about the effects of this situation on Scorpius, call me selfish, or too busy wrapped up in my own thoughts, but now I'm really thinking about them for the first time.
He's lost his mother's engagement ring, a family heirloom, a memory of his late mum, to his enemy. Regardless of whether we are friends now, or still enemies, losing something with so much significance must be devastating.
Because, regardless of whatever, he would've wanted to give that ring to someone it meant the world to, someone he cared for, someone he loved. But instead it's ended up on my finger, and shows no sign of coming off.
So yes, all in all, that is a pretty shitty situation, pretty shitty being a huge understatement.
"Dad", Scorpius bends down now, closer to his father who is sat with his head in his hands, "I know you're mad, but please, your help is the only way we can get this off"
A deafening silence stifles me, I feel as if I am choking on thin air. Fearing his reaction, I stare solemnly at my feet, I've already created enough problems with this ring on my finger, so I don't fancy drawing attention to myself.
Seconds feel like minutes and the minutes feel like hours. Ever so slowly, Draco raises his shaking head, and stares his son straight in the face.
Hearing myself take a sharp intake of breath, through no intention whatsover, I observe the scene before me, quietly, trying to make myself small.
"If anything Scorpius, I'm not mad. I'm just confused."
"Dad, I told you it wasn't on purpose -"
"-I'm confused Scorpius because that ring should have never let Rose put it on. The rules and magic beneath it, or at least I thought so, would've prevented it."
"What do you mean?"
"Right, the pair of you, sit. I want no interruptions, no talking, just pure silence. If I explain this to you, you have to make sure that you listen."
Glancing quickly at one another, all we do is nod in response.
Inhaling heavily, preparing himself for a big story, Draco begins, and as he talks my brain feels more jumbled than ever.
"You're right in saying that this has gone through Quod Absconditum. It means what is hidden. I'm not sure how much you know about it, as not much is taught, or sometimes what is taught is done so incorrectly. For starters, the idea that the original owner must have a deep desire in order to change it, is a lie. Quod Absconditum can only occur every 6 months, and any owner of the object, or anyone with any link to the object, is able to reverse the spell. Before you both butt in, as it stands, the ring can only be reversed in the new year, as someone reversed it 4 1/2 months previous. Don't ask how I know, except I found the object that is truly behind the ring, and that is why I'm so confused."
"The ring is a sheet of parchment, full of binding rules, all rules in which set out how the ring is accessed and charmed. These rules are impossible to break, which is why I don't understand how you managed to put it on Rose. These rules have been in place for years, and they're all to do with protecting the Malfoy line and heir. This ring has been in my family for centuries, for as long as any of my family can remember, trailing all the way back to the beginning of our family tree. I've only seen these rules once, I wasn't even given access to them before I gave them to your Mum Scorpius. Until I saw this parchment a few months back I had no idea of what Astoria got herself into."
His eyes are misty, the air crackling with electric tension. All I want to do is grab him and ask him to continue, but I let it lie, my heart goes into my throat as I imagine just exactly what he is going through right now.
"The parchment constitutes of old and traditional magic, like I said, all to ensure protection of the Malfoy line. The ring, as awful as this sounds, is almost like a tag. It ties you down. It prevents you from doing anymore than kissing with anyone else than your partner, and it can't be taken off unless the soulmate is realised. It's very old-fashioned, I know, ensuring purity for the Malfoy husband, but that's the way my family used to be."
Scorpius has gone still, almost statuesque, if I push him, will he crumble?
I suppose it is awkward for anyone to hear their father talking about kissing, let alone in front of their friends, I can't imagine what I'd do if my Dad tried such a thing.
"But the main thing I don't understand is how you managed to put the ring on in the first place Rose. It's designed to ensure that only Malfoy brides or potential Malfoy candidates put it on, and because of that reason, well, you have to be pureblood.
What.
I-
I don't know what to think. Or do. Or say.
I'm not offended by this as it's something that, awfully, I can understand from the Malfoys'. But then how the hell did I manage to put this ring on? And how the hell am I meant to get this thing off? If anything, I'm so much more confused than before. Why did someone reverse the process 4 1/2 months ago? Who was this said person, as it clearly wasn't Draco!
Draco addresses me now, in a low and serious tone.
"Rose, please do not for one second think that I still believe in all that pureblood shit. That part of me died long ago, way before the death of my father. My mother never truly believed in it either, but it is the way our family have always been. I did not write these rules, nor did I add or change to them. I just want my son to be happy, I don't care who he marries, as long as he is loved, and in love all the same."
I nod my head slowly, taking this all in, as much as I can anyway. Yet this pounding enters my head, and all that I can contemplate is just how much I want to be outside right now, alone, in the comfort of silence and snow.
"Thank you Mr Malfoy", I say, reverting back to greetings and politeness, "I'd just like to excuse myself quickly to get some air."
"Of course Rose, I completely understand"
My announcement of departure sparks Scorpius to stand up with me. He grabs my hand. I look down. And then back up. But I can't read this face, these eyes, this page, I can no longer read, no longer turn the page.
So concludes chapter 24! I hope you're all well! I am so sorry for how shitty I have been updating recently! I am at University, having just moved out for the first time, and let's just say it is crazy! I've been here for 2 months now and it is so crazy - however the work load is soooooo much more than I expected. I'm trying to balance work around writing too. However I am currently back at home (which is 7 hours south from uni I must add), so am trying to find time for writing.I will try to be better with updating - expect shorter chapters of around 3000 words, as they will be more frequent, if shorter.
Also sorry if this doesn't all make sense yet, everything will begin to be explained over the next couple of chapters. This story and the explanation is a marathon, not a sprint!
As I said previously, my instagram for this story is notaprettysightstory which is where you will be updated.
To chew someone's ear off - talk so much about something
To butt in - interrupt