Thanks for your reviews! Sorry I haven't been posting but school has started so things are a little bit rougher, but I will try to post as often as I can. Stay with me because I'm not planning to give up on this! Love you all.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter is not mine.
"…And then he made out with her! In the closet! Apparently Filch disinfected the entire place afterwards," Andriya finishes.
Penny looks at Andriya disapprovingly, "How do you even find out about these things?"
Andriya gasps, "How do you not know about these things?"
"Oh we do," Casey says yawning, her glittering earrings reflecting the light, "We just don't care enough."
Rose and Penny stifled a laugh. Andriya had convinced Rose to tell the group about her and Parker's relationship. They were all in love with the idea of Parker except Penny, for he had followed her around for quite some time before. Rose told them about their time at the Owlery. She hoped it didn't sound too boring to them because she didn't need questions right now. She needed time and space to figure things out for herself.
"Rose," Naomi says, entering the dorm, "Parker's in the common room waiting for you. Already knows the drill to get in huh?"
"Uh, thanks Naomi," Rose says hesitantly, stepping out and closing the door behind her. She was slightly confused, for they had agreed to meet tomorrow, and she couldn't believe that he answered the riddle.
When she got down to the common room, she found out Naomi was right. Parker was there, leaning against one of the pillars with one shoulder.
"Rose!" Parker says, his eyes lighting up, "I just couldn't wait another day. I had to see you."
"Oh," was all Rose could manage before grabbing his hand and pushing out the door where they could get more privacy. The people behind them clapped and hollered and disappeared behind the closing doors.
Rose dragged Parker a little ways away before stopping to face him.
"Hey," she says, breathing deeply, "What was the rush?"
He laughs enthusiastically, "I should be asking you! We practically flew down the halls just now."
Rose laughs too, "Sorry. I just felt like talking or hanging around alone, you know?"
He interlocks his hand with hers and they turn to face the same way, "Yeah, I got it. Back to your other question, I just wanted to see you. Walk around a little."
Rose's other hand flew up to her hair to flatten it as the wind picked it up, "Okay."
"Great," he says, stepping forwards.
They walk the school grounds, through the Quidditch pitch, and the edge of the Forbidden Forest. It was nice outside, a little bit breezy and not too sunny. Parker added remarks here and there, but it was generally a silent walk. Rose was grateful. She wasn't in the mood to hear him complain again.
"So I've been thinking," Parker starts.
"That's never a good thing," Rose teases playfully, poking him in the chest
Parker presses a kiss to her hair; "Maybe you can come over to meet my family over Christmas break. Just for a day, not too much. I know your family takes Christmas on a massive scale."
Rose smiles widely, "I could love to." For some reason, that made her very happy. She didn't feel hesitant at all, which was a good sign in her books.
Parker looks at her intently, "Thank you so much. My mum has been reminding me in her letters how lonely she thinks I am, and she worries so much. She doesn't know yet but I'm planning to send another letter tonight to tell her about you."
"You're so sweet," Rose says, pulling closer to him, "My family knows all about you already. Even the adults."
Parker grins and nods before continuing, "I was never really interested in Penny you know."
"Really?" Rose says questioningly, "How about Patrick and Pierce then?"
"Oh, they still really like her," Parker confirms, "It's too bad she's been showing interest in Smitt Cosgrove."
"Smitt as in the one in Lysander Scamander's dorm?" Rose asks.
"Yeah," Parker says, "With Scorpius and them."
"Oh," Rose says. Maybe she really hasn't been paying attention to her best friend. She recalled Penny trying to bring up a subject but always shutting it down last-minute countless times in her head. That was probably what she wanted to tell her. Looking back on it now, she has been away from the dorm quite a bit and they haven't had a proper conversation for weeks. She made a mental note to bring it up with Penny later.
"I was always into you," Parker says, "But you always seemed so far away."
Rose broke out of her trance, "What do you mean?"
"You had walls around you. Walls in the form of Albus Potter, James Potter, and Scorpius Malfoy."
"What?" she says, her mouth opening, "Malfoy?"
"Yeah," Parker says, nodding, "Scorpius just has this defensive vibe with you. You felt unattainable, you know? A lot of people were looking out for you, so one wrong step could set a lot of them off. It took me awhile to be confident enough to approach you."
They don't say anything the walk back. Rose forced herself to focus. Parker never brought up the topic of Scorpius again, maybe he knew not to. Things with Parker continued to get better nonetheless. He supported Rose during her Quidditch games and eventually started hanging out with her family, much to the James, Albus, Hugo, and Fred's dismay. Rose appreciated his efforts anyhow. He charmed her with his funny conversations and thrilled Lily, Roxanne, Lucy, and her roommates with his jokes and manners. He started complaining less; Rose wasn't even sure that he was aware of this. Still, she couldn't get over the look of awkwardness Albus had on his face every time he saw them together. Oh well. He wasn't dating Parker, she was. By the time the first Hogsmeade weekend came up in November, Rose had almost forgotten about the pale blonde boy. Almost.
Albus couldn't stand Parker Landerwick. Landerwick was in Gryffindor and resided in the dorm next to his. He knew he shouldn't have told Rose that Parker fancied her but he knew she was going to find out anyway with Andriya Masterton in her dorm. Something in his gut feeling told him that they weren't going to last but from the looks of it, Parker might be giving him a run for his galleons. Albus shook his head. Rose was a smart girl but sometimes she could be so oblivious to everything around her. Now she was sucking on Landerwick's face and Scorpius was making friends with her roommate Naomi. Albus was frustrated. He was frustrated with Damien trying to get into Candace's pants, frustrated with Elaine and James's ignorance towards their feelings for each another, and frustrated with his two best friends. At this rate, he might go and drown himself in the Black Lake.
A few days ago, he overheard Elaine and Miles talking about their Head Duties in the library. It seems like they were spending a lot of time together this year. It wasn't uncommon for Head Boy and Head Girl to get together. James was going to get hit by this so soon and he wasn't even going to see it coming. It wasn't like he took Elaine for granted. It was that he was so used to her being around that if she wasn't around anymore, he would feel it hard. Albus wished he could do something about, but he didn't even know where to start. Here's to hoping James smartens up before she's gone forever.
It was weird to see James without Elaine by his side and vice versa. Albus could appreciate James's ability to pick up girls because immediately after the girls in seventh year found out that Elaine wasn't hanging out with James as often, they took that opportunity to try and pursue him. James had turned all of them down except Veera Thomas. Either that was an attempt to hang out with Elaine and Miles or it was out of pure interest, but Albus couldn't tell. Veera and Miles were basically siblings after all. They were almost like James and Elaine, except without all the sexual tension.
His own situation wasn't worse than his brother's, but it was very close. He knew it and his friends knew it. Damien was going to stop at nothing to get Candace back. Candace insisted that it was not what it seemed like. She had no intentions on getting back with him; he was sure of that and she was convinced too. Still, he couldn't help but feel uncomfortable every time he saw them together. They were spending less and less time with each other because Candace was always busy with Damien. Hopefully, by Christmas break, Damien could get along well enough (he was already doing splendidly) with everyone without Candace that McGonagall could set her free again.
Albus didn't know much about Damien, but the fact that he was he was Candace's ex-boyfriend was fact enough. Albus was not one to blindly be against someone, but he couldn't help but wonder what their relationship was like. Candace never talked about it much, she just said that they broke up because going to different schools was really hard on both of them. They didn't date for long either, just a couple months at the beginning of fourth year. He never pressured her to talk about Damien either, but he convinced himself that he was good to her, so that he wouldn't have to go beat him up. With any given chance, he knew he would.
Albus knew something was up with Smitt when he turned the idea of Scorpius hooking up with Penny down immediately. It was confirmed later when he went to the Astronomy Tower hoping to catch some fresh air and saw them awkwardly stand near each other on the other side. He found it rather cute actually. Smitt was a tall guy, taller than Scorpius by a few inches and built. It was like he was on some kind of potion that made his muscles toned and huge; they were all natural though. It wasn't a scary type of large and it doesn't seem to intimidate Penny at all. He was the most impatient in the group, but Penny could balance him out. She was probably the most patient person Albus had ever met. It was the type of patience a mother would have, or someone who cherished animals. Care of Magical Creatures was her favourite subject after all (at least that's what Rose told him).
Albus looked at the clock in the Gryffindor common room, got up and stretched. He proceeded towards the doors, Candace was probably in her dorm by now.
Scorpius exhaled. It was cold enough outside to see his breath. He loved the cold fall and winter more than the warm spring and summer, but mostly he loved the cold because it reminded him how close Christmas was. He'd never admit it to anyone but that was the one time he felt like there were no worries in the world; he was allowed to be a child and open his presents eagerly. Every Christmas he'd receive gifts from numerous family members, and he'd tear through them like a child. His presents were mostly clothes, if he was lucky, he got sweets or a new broom. It was something he'd never let any of his friends see, or his parents for that matter. He was almost of age and his father never let him forget that.
"Scorpius?" Naomi Featherwood says from beside him. They walked outside on a regular basis, never past curfew though. He'd almost forgotten she was there because of how quiet it was.
"Yeah," he says absentmindedly.
"What were you saying about Al?" she asked innocently.
"What? I wasn't talking about Al," he protested.
She giggled. It was hilarious, the bromance between Albus and Scorpius.
"Not you too," he grunts, shoving his cold hands in his pant pockets.
Naomi rubs her hands together, hoping to keep them warm too, "I am all for that idea."
"He has a girl," Scorpius says lamely.
"And you don't," she notes.
He turns to face her, "Your point?"
Her eyes catch the ground, "Just stating the facts."
"Thank you," Scorpius says, somewhat sarcastic.
"So what is it with you, Scorpius Malfoy?" Naomi asks, "What goes on in that head of yours?"
Scorpius shrugs.
"A man of many words, I daresay," she says, "I'll be honest with you though, I didn't think you'd want to hang out with me today."
Scorpius turns his head towards her, "Why not?"
"Well, I didn't think you were interested," she states, in a matter-of-fact kind of way, "Are you interested? In me?"
Scorpius pauses.
"I figured," she says faintly, "Still though, it feels pretty wild to be talking to the Scorpius Malfoy."
"Hey…" he starts, but she cuts him off.
"I get it," she says, a smile on her face, "But I think we make good friends, don't you?" Her attention immediately drifts elsewhere. Naomi was interesting, to say the least, she definitely wasn't like any of the girls that Scorpius has talked to before, and she really didn't care at all that he didn't like her that way. Scorpius grinned. It was nice having a girl to talk to sometimes. Girls aren't so difficult after all.
"Definitely," he says, feeling a bit more relaxed.
"We should continue being just friends," she says, readjusting her toque.
He nods, "This walk was really nice and comforting."
"That's good to hear," she says, "You seem so tense and stressed all the time."
He blows her off. She was going to ask him who she was soon. Who was the one that occupied his thoughts? He didn't know how to answer that. He didn't want to know. It was better to leave that question unanswered for now anyway.
