Disclaimer: I am not JK Rowling, nor do I own Harry Potter. All ideas are my own.
Ice cold air bundles me up in a chilly hug, and for once the bitterness has never been so welcome.
It almost freezes my brain, stops any thought for a second, halts cognitive movement.
And after what I've just been told, it is well-needed.
It's strange, I'm not sad, nor angry, nor upset. Well actually maybe that's not strange, but instead just sane. Why would I have any reason to be any of the above?
It's just confusion, this riddle seems to not want to be solved. It's as if I'm completing a jigsaw puzzle, and every time I manage to find a new piece and slot it into place, someone takes another bit out.
All I can think about is how, just how did I manage to get the ring on if it's meant to forbid anyone that's not pureblood. Could someone have changed it when Draco found the rules? But then surely he would've noticed that that rule was changed, or no longer there. Or perhaps they changed it after, so Draco couldn't notice. But just who would do such a thing?
All things aside, at least know I know that I won't be able to take this fucking thing off until I find my soulmate, that much is clear.
Clearly the magic within the ring must have overlooked the fact that I'm not a potential Malfoy bride candidate, and worked all the same: regardless if I were future wife material for Scorpius, I can't take this bloody ring off until I realise who is meant to be for me.
What pressure that puts on me though! I'm only 16, barely by a few months, and now have to find my soulmate if I stand any chance of getting this thing off.
At least for starters I know it's not Anto, nope, completely dodged a bullet there. Great, one potential soulmate down, hundreds more to go.
As I sit on the snow-encrusted bench, casting a warming charm for my feet, I watch the peace and tranquility unfold in pockets of shooting stars, tumbling down in pirouettes, accentuating the beauty of Hogwarts behind me.
Strings of glowing lights, suspended in mid-air, snake around the columns, the perfect accompaniment to the dazzle of above.
The soft hum of noise slowly drifts out into the courtyard, everyone sounds so happy, so excited for Christmas, celebrating together, while I sit here, alone, wondering what I should do next.
"Rose?"
If I'd have known someone would've found me out here, I would've assumed it would be Scorpius.
Turning my head, I see the silhouette of my mother making her way towards me.
I know I said I needed fresh air, and wanted to be alone, but I've never been so happy to see her. This is also a moment in which I need my mum. Nothing beats my mum's advice, and right now she could help me untangle the thoughts circling round my head. Of course I can't tell her the ins and outs of my situation, but at least I can ask her what she possibly might know.
Cryptically of course, if I can, although knowing my mum she'll have clocked on to what I'm asking her, especially if she's hearing me talk about soulmates.
I can already picture the conversation: "Rose, why are you suddenly so desperate to find out who you're meant to be with? Have you started seeing someone? Because honey, I don't want you to listen to the pressure of the family, I know they have their jokes about the two-person rule but I promise it's nonsense.
The two person is something that Uncle George likes to wind us kids up with. It's not complicated, nor confusing, in fact the opposite, very simple. The majority of people in my family have only ever dated one person before they dated the person that they married. Take my mum and dad, Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny, Uncle Bill and Aunt Victoire etc etc. This is another reason why Uncle George likes to track who we're dating, as if we're on number two he likes to send joke engagement rings or marriage proposals.
Of course, there are some exceptions to this rule. Fred is serial dater, and a lost soul when it comes to love, so in regards to him I think Uncle George has given up all together.
When my mum's comforting hand touches my shoulder however, I feel calmer, the rippling tide crashing through my body has now dissipated into soft ripples.
"Rose, darling, what are you doing out here?"
Relief slowly washes over me as I can tell by the tone of her voice that she's not completely worried, meaning that I can enter this conversation with less of a fear of being caught out in a lie.
"I'm just thinking mum, you know how I get at Christmas."
For some reason I always get really sentimental at Christmas. When something happens every year, like clockwork, it's easy to compare it to previous times. I can't help but think of those who used to celebrate this with us, and those who are no longer here to do so.
So it's a cheap cop-out, especially when she knows this is something I'm prone to suffering from.
But my mum being my mum, can see exactly through my bullshit, and I can just tell by the way she poses her next question.
"Is that why I've just seen you running from the ball like Cinderella? I've never known that to work you up so much Rosie!"
Cinderella is a muggle fairytale in which a servant is magically transformed and goes to the ball. She falls in love with Prince Charming but the magic disappears at 12, and so, when the clock is about to strike midnight, she runs from the ball.
However, the Prince then finds her, and they get married and fall in love. And as far as I'm concerned, I'm certainly not like Cinderella. My life is anything but a fairytale.
Turning to look at my mum, she has a knowing glint in her eye, which tells me she knows far more than she's letting on.
"I've just got a lot on my mind at the moment Mum. I promise I'm fine."
Not a lie, but I guess not 100% the truth.
"Sure there is nothing you want to talk about? I'm all ears."
Well I guess it's now or never. If she thinks I'm being wistful then hopefully she won't read into it too much.
"Did you ever think Dad was your soulmate?"
"Oh, well, um, oh I didn't expect you to ask that! Is there a certain boy on your mind Rosie?"
Whereas Dad would cheekily nudge me and tease me, Mum knows better when it comes to matters of the heart. I suppose half of it could be to do with the fact that I never talk to her about boys, and if I start doing so and she takes the piss out of me, I might never do so again.
"No, not at all. We were just learning about soulmates the other day, and I wondered if you really believed in it all. I know there is old magic regarding them and that's something that can't be disproved, but in general, do you think they're a thing?''
Taking a deep breath, with furrowed brows, clearly contemplating her answer, she gives me her answer.
"I'm not sure Rosie. I don't like to label who we're meant to be with and force that relationship into some sort of box. Your dad and I have never tested to see if we're soulmates, nor would we really care too. All we know is that we love one another so much that the title of soulmates is insignificant to us. I know I've found my person, your dad is not just my partner but also my best friend."
"But what I would say to you Rosie, regardless of you saying that you're not thinking of anyone, I am your mother and know you far too well. Don't go searching for them. If they want to be found, they'll let themselves be known. What's the good in forcing yourself into something just because they may have the title of soulmate? Imagine if you find someone, that you really really like, and then find out they're not the one for you in the eyes of magic. Or find out that your arch-enemy is meant to be your ideal partner. Looking for it will do no good, only harm, I promise. Love always happens when you least expect it.
This was the exact advice I needed, and I'm just so so glad that she found me out here.
She's completely helped me make up her mind, and I'm going to listen to every piece of what she's just told me.
I was slightly distracted at first when I heard her start talking about my dad like that, as she's never opened up to me on that level before.
At home they bicker like an old-married couple… but then again I suppose that's perfect as that's exactly what they are.
Their bickering is their love-language, and provides hefty entertainment for our house, although on occasion it can become particularly annoying, or in some cases escalate to the point that we have to floo to the Potters to get Uncle Harry or Aunt Ginny to get involved, as they seem to be the only two, apart from Grandma, who can really separate them.
So it's decided then, I'm not going to actively seek for them, but let them come to me, let them be found. Yes I need the ring off, and I hope for Scorpius's sake it's in the next 5 years or so, but surely it can't dictate my life too much? Surely those statements that Draco saw are the only rules of the ring?
I engulf mum in a hug and promise that I'll follow her into the ballroom in a second, the comfort of my mum's touch the greatest accent to her wise words of advice.
Feeling much happier, I turn back to gaze upon the skyline that was previously occupying my attention, but this time, the canvas is blotted by a mess of platinum blonde.
"Scorpius"
"Rose"
He looks like he's just seen a ghost. Sweaty, nervous, hair falling out of place, he can't quite look me in the eye.
"Are you alright?", I ask tentatively, careful to ensure that I keep the distance between us.
Seeing as I'm the root of this problem, I could be a red flag to a bull right now, the straw that breaks the hippogriff's back, and naturally I want to prevent that from happening as much as possible.
"Yes", his voice is terse, and strained, and instantly I know I need to go away.
Not because I'm scared or fearful, but because it's the right thing to do.
Overhead it feels as if thunder is lurking, an invasion of dark, murky clouds planning their attack, waiting for their moment to strike, but when I quickly glance up I can see it's all in my mind.
But no matter the weather. The tensity of this situation promises a brewing argument, one that doesn't need to happen, will only happen because of fraught emotions, and one that can be avoided if I just make my escape.
Going to leave, my footsteps are interrupted by his cold tone, cold tone that almost sounds slightly frantic.
"My dad told me something else. Something I can't tell you. But something that affects the ring."
Well that instantly riles me up, nothing annoys me more when someone dangles the carrot in front of your nose and then whips it away when you're about to take a bite.
"Why can't you tell me Scorpius? If you couldn't have told me than you should have just never said it."
He rakes his fingers through his hair, gesturing wildly.
"It's not that I can't tell you Rose. It's that I won't. He hasn't forbid me to tell you, but I just can't bring myself to do it. It won't help us in finding the ring, and - "
" - and what?"
" - and I just don't know what you'll think of me."
"Whatever it is Scorpius, I'd like to know. I won't get mad, if anything I'll be happy that you trusted me enough, to tell me as a friend."
I opt to go for calm tactics. Like I said, I'm trying to avoid an argument, and see that this is the best way.
Although I ignore the way my heart drops when I say friend. I ignore the way my hands go clammy, I ignore the shakiness in my voice, the apprehension in my throat. I ignore anything that could possibly make this situation even more complicated than it already is.
I must ignore his response too, as he seems to be even more riled up than before.
"See you're not even listening Rose! Here I am, stood like an idiot, trying to tell you what you wanted to know and you don't even have the decency to hear me out."
Shit. I don't know what's got him so wound up but it must be big, otherwise this is a huge overreaction.
"Okay I'm sorry! Please go on!"
Thinking an apology is the best way to go forth, I stand with my arms folded, awaiting his reply.
But no, that's not what he wanted either.
"What's happened to you? What's happened to us? Where has the arguing gone? Why is nothing normal anymore? Why has my life been completely switched upside down this year?"
In stunned silence I watch him rant and rave, eyes alight, face dripping with sweat despite the fact we're surrounded by thick blankets of snow.
Reeling off hundreds and thousands of questions, he's unstoppable, and judging by his ranting these questions are rhetorical.
Suddenly they come to a halt, the questions I mean, and he just stares at me, blankly, as if he's never seen me before.
"I should never have let it get this far. It's far too complicated, and our situation is complicated enough, regardless of the ring."
I blink once. A sign of acknowledgement, despite the fact that what he's said hasn't particularly sunk in.
I know he's talking about me and him, that much is clear, but I'm just so confused as to what has wound him up so much. What has Draco told him to make him so volatile, as if he's a bubbling potion waiting to boil over.
A deafening silence shrouds us. Until he takes one step towards me, and then instantly one back.
Looking down at his hands I can see that they're shaking. I'm not sure if that's from the cold, or anger, or hurt, but it seems to be a combination of all three.
The wind has started to pick up now, menacingly whispering in my ear, a sharp melody of anger.
"I can't be around you anymore Rose. There's a month and a half until we can make real progress with the ring, so say 45 days. During that time, I want to see as little of you as possible. Please, leave me alone."
He's not angry anymore, not shouting, in fact it almost sounds like he's pleading. He looks as if he's desperate, and if I'm right I think I can see the faint appearance of tears threatening to trace his waterline.
Swallowing hardly, I try to ignore the hurt that courses through me, the sharp pain I physically feel shoot through my body.
Is this what it feels like, to be heartbroken for the first time?
Whether I'm heartbroken because I feel something for Scorpius, or heartbroken because I've lost a newfound friendship, right now it doesn't matter.
It's as if I can't breathe, the quickness of my breath present in the cold air.
I know he's still watching me, and I know I need to run as fast as my legs can carry me until he can't see me anymore.
After all, that's what he wants isn't it?
Too tired to contemplate Scorpius's change of heart, I whip around, and run rapidly through the snow, not caring that I could slip or stumble and make a fool of myself at any given moment.
Because Scorpius has already made a fool of me, I don't need to give him the satisfaction of seeing it happen a second time.
Stinging at the corners of my eyes tell me tears are imminent, which only encourages me to run faster on.
Whistling wind accompanies my stride and I finally make it to the foot of Gryffindor tower, waiting for the warmth of fire to melt the icy pain occupying my heart.
Yet as I make my way to bed, clambering up cold concrete stairs in bare-feet, heels in hand, all I can think about, is how the clock strikes midnight.
Found it so hard writing this chapter - partly because it's filler and partly because I'm writing this on the train, just after saying goodbye to my mum and travelling back to Uni 7 hours away
:(
We're (hopefully) halfway through this story now. Thank you all for sticking by me and persevering so far!
Just out of curiosity - would anyone like a chapter from Scorpius's POV?
Like I said last time, expect shorter chapters of around 3000, but as a result more frequent updates.
Take care and stay safe all of you,
E x
Instagram account: notaprettysightstory
p.s. if the editing is shoddy, really sorry! current plan is to finish story and then properly sort it out/make alterations :)