The first time I was packing for Hogwarts I was so excited, I had already read all my books for the year, and I couldn't wait to finally start my classes and meet new friends. Since the Weasley-Potter brood used to spend all holidays together, and many of my cousins were already at Hogwarts, or my age, I already had a "clan" I belonged to inside the school. But I was still excited to meet someone, and in the Hogwarts express I was already looking for a chance to speak to someone I was related to. This someone happened to be Alice Longbottom. We became best friends immediately, and we were inseparable since the moment we were both sorted into Ravenclaw.
Unfortunately, she wasn't the only person I met during the train ride. Albus, Harry's son, became friends with Scorpius Malfoy. My father told me to look out for "the Malfoy kid" and to "beat him at everything", and I took this very seriously. I was really close to Albus, and I just couldn't understand how he could stand Scorpius. Don't get me wrong, Scorpius was a very smart kid, and at the beginning my annoyance with him was mostly constructed by my willingness to make dad proud. But over time, it only grew stronger. Both him and Albus were sorted into Slytherin, and became very much like Alice and me.
Over the years, Albus and I remained close, and would often hang out, but as of lately, I found myself having troubles to fully enjoy spending time with Albus, especially when seeing him almost always meant seeing the git he had as best friend. I just couldn't stand Malfoy. When we were kids, our antagonism was mostly limited to trying to outperform the other academically. I considered this to be healthy competition, as my grades only benefitted from a little extra motivation, and our war resulted in us always being on top of our classes. Over the years, however, outperforming each other in class just wouldn't cut it anymore. I'd say I pitied all the stupid bimbos he slept with, he'd bark back he felt sorry I was jealous and wished to be one of said bimbos.
Everybody was used to our verbal banter, Albus and Alice above all. At first, they were trying to calm us down, "Leave her alone Scorpius" Albus would say at the same time as Alice would say "Rose, stop provoking him!". Now, they just didn't bother. Not that Malfoy or I would listen to them anyway.
I am now in my sixth year at Hogwarts, and Malfoy and I both made prefects and are what you'd call the example of what perfect students look like, if it wasn't for the increasing amount of detentions we are collecting since the fourth year.
Today, after potions, was just the latest addition to the list of times I wished for the death and demise of Scorpius Malfoy and it backfired.
"Oi Weasley, I heard McLaggen asked you out yesterday, but your face got so red he thought you were sick and offered to walk you to the hospital wing" he chuckles. It is true that he asked me out and I might have blushed, but I said yes and he is lying about the rest. Malfoy's walking towards my desk, where I am still gathering my stuff after I lost some time chatting with Alice after class, who had then left in a hurry to go to our dormitory to fix her make up before dinner. "I bet you couldn't believe someone would actually want to be seen around with that face of yours". The classroom was almost empty, most of the students were already heading back to their common rooms to drop their bags before gathering in the Great Hall for dinner.
"Whatever makes you sleep at night Malfoy" I say. I am just too tired to come up with anything better. "At least I have people that actually want to get to know me, instead of using me for my body or popularity". I tell him. It's true, he only sleeps with whores who then try to convince him to date them to climb the social ladder at Hogwarts.
"Weasley, I am flattered. You think they use me for my body? Does that imply I have a nice body?". I hate when he gets all cocky. I don't want to admit it, but I'd be lying if I said he wasn't good looking. Tall, blue eyes, blond hair that looked like he just had sex all the time, the right amount of muscles thanks to Quidditch training, and the aura of being a god in bed. Too bad for the shit personality that came with the package.
"Malfoy, were you born this lame?" and fuck off.
"No Weasley, it's your presence that takes out the best in me" he chuckles. By now we are the only two people left.
"You're such a loser" I am now almost shouting, and I feel myself reaching for my wand. I don't plan on actually hurting him, just having some fun. Over the years I learnt that he is actually very good at duelling, so I know that he'll be able to defend himself.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" His eyes darting to hand going to my wand, his hand protectively reaching for his own wand.
And then everything happens so quickly.
"Stupefy!" I cry out with my wand pointed at him almost at the same as he shouts "Protego!" and skillfully avoids my attack. I told you! I drop my wand and close the distance between us by running at him and aiming to punch his nose, but he blocks me and grabs by wrist, turning me around and blocking me by wrapping his arms around me and lifting me from the ground. Damn he has a strong grip.
"Enough you two!" a third voice says. We look up and see Professor Slughorn looking at us from the top of the stairs leading to his office. He must have heard our bickering from inside. "I've head enough of your quarrelling –" he continues " – you will both serve detention tonight. 8pm, my office". Malfoy pushes me away from him and I awkwardly stumble and grab a desk to steady myself.
"Professor, he wouldn't –" I start.
"Sir, she called me -" I hear Malfoy's voice trying to hover mine.
"I said ENOUGH! Detention, tonight. I don't want to hear another word". He goes back to his office and shuts the door.
My face is red and I feel like I could punch Malfoy in the face. My dumb brain is debating on whether I should say something to him or just walk away. I feel my eyes looking up at him. His clenching his fists and staring in the empty space, anger transpiring from every cell of his body.
Suddenly, he looks at me.
"Weasley, you're so fucking uptight. One can't even joke around that you immediately try to hex him. Where do you get off? You're crazy" he says in a low voice.
"Me? You're the one who started this for fuck's sake! You can't just mind your own business, you had to come here and ruin my day! Fuck off!" I say as I shove the remainder of my stuff in my bag and head outside the classroom. Not before I hit the git in the shoulder as I walk past him to exit the classroom.
It's now 7.45pm and I am in Ravenclaw's common room talking to Alice about the new classes. She's excited about something some Hufflepuff tosser told her during dinner, most probably asked her out, but I am still to mad about having to spend the night with Malfoy to pay attention. As I notice the time, I lazily stand up from my armchair and I hug Alice goodbye before heading towards the potion's classroom.
"Be a good girl!" she shouts as I walk away. I hear her chuckle as I dismiss her with a wave of my hand.
I am tired, my tie is loosened up around my neck and the first buttons of my shirt are open. My curly red hair is up in a messy bun and I am not wearing any make up. As I walk towards the dungeons, where the potions' classroom is, I can't help but think I have to stop reacting to Malfoy, or else it's going to be a long year.
As I enter the classroom, Professor Slughorn is sitting at his desk writing something down. Looks like he's focused on some research.
"Good evening, Professor" I speak up to let him know I arrived.
"Miss Weasley, good evening. You can take a sit, we'll begin as soon as Mr Malfoy joins us" he says as he briefly looks up from his parchment.
After 10 minutes, I am starting to think Malfoy won't even show up. The nerve. However, as I am about to ask Professor Slughorn to just begin by myself, Malfoy strides in looking like he owns the place.
"Apologies, Professor, I was in the library and lost track of time" he smiles apologetically.
"No worries, Mister Malfoy, take a sit and we will begin shortly" he says as he stands up and tidies the papers on his desk. It looks like he is done with whatever he was writing before. He sits down next to me as I roll my eyes.
"Weasley, roll your eyes any harder and they'll get stuck in the back of your head" he whispers in my ear. So close. Too close.
"At least I wouldn't have to look at your ugly face everyday" I say as I pretend to smile while Slughorn stand up and looks at us.
"As you can see, I lined up 20 cauldrons in the back of the classroom. I want you to clean them up before the end of tonight. No magic allowed. You'll find everything you need in the cupboard" he says pointing at one side of the classroom. We turn simultaneously to look where he's pointing. "I'll be in my office, let me know when you're done. Have fun" he smiles and heads back towards the stairs. He gives us a final look once he's on top of the stairs, before shutting the door to his office.
Malfoy and I are still sitting next to each other at one of the desks at the front of the classroom.
"Let's just get this over with" Malfoy says annoyed as he stands up and walks towards the cupboard.
"You have some blondie waiting for you when you get back?" I say making a voice as I lazily follow him.
"Whatever Weasley, you keep brining that up and don't expect me to think you're jealous" he says without looking at me as he takes brushes and soap from the cupboard. "Help me out here, will you? I know you're used to people around you being ok with you being useless, but not going to work with me" he continues. He looks annoyed.
p"You wish" I reply referring to me being jealous of him. I actually do help him out to carry the stuff though, we already got detention and I just want to get out of here as soon as possible.
We start cleaning the cauldrons in silence, and I am starting to get sweaty. Malfoy rolled up his sleeves and loosened his tie, and he looks tired. I find myself looking at his forearms while he is scrubbing the cauldrons, and thinking I'd like to see the rest of his arms.. I must be getting really bored.
"What are you looking at?" he almost snarls.
"Nothing. I am bored". Great job, Weasley, so witty.
"Oh I am sorry this detention is not up to you standards of having fun, let me go get Professor Slughorn and explain to him how you'd like to do something else" he says, sarcasm transpiring from every word.
"It's the company that sucks" I mumble more to myself.
"Should I go get some of your friends? Or your boyfriend?" he says, mocking me. He knows we're not together.
"You know he's not my boyfriend you twat. Just because he asks me out it doesn't mean we're getting together. Not every girl is as desperate as the ones you go out with" I hear myself sounding defensive as I reply, and smack myself in the head. I don't have to defend myself, especially not to Malfoy.
He stops his ministrations on the cauldron as he looks at me, perplexed, ignoring my remark.
"What do you see in McLaggen, anyway? He's so.. boring" he says, almost talking to himself.
"He's a nice bloke, he-" I start.
"I didn't know nice was a synonym for boring" he cuts in.
"It's not! Gosh –" My face growing redder by the second "- why do you even care?".
"I don't" he shrugs.
"It seems to me you have a lot to say about it" I continue "so pray tell, why do you care so much about who I go out with?". I look at him, awaiting a response.
"Weasley, I couldn't care less about it if I tried" he insists. He is now looking at me with his blue eyes, and nervously runs a hand through his blond messy hair. I raise my eyebrow at him, and then shake my head at the absurdity of this conversation. Honestly, I don't know why I bother with him.
We continue in silence. An hour passes, and it's getting hotter in here. He seems so focussed. We are now working on the last two cauldrons in the line, and our shoulders are sometimes touching, our forearms bumping into each other. I can smell his cologne from here, and I find myself almost wanting to smell him closer. How can he smell so good after we've been scrubbing dirt for the past hour? I keep this thought to myself though, as I start to scrub harder on one spot that doesn't want to wash off. As I do so, however, my brush slips on the soapy surface and I end up punching Malfoy in the stomach and splashing him with the dirty water.
I look at him and open my mouth to say something, but when I see his shocked face I can't help myself but laugh. I am laughing so hard I feel my eyes tearing up.
"Oh gosh – " I try to say while laughing, and reach out to wipe his shirt with my hands " – so sorry!". He doesn't look very amused though and grabs my wrists with his hands.
I stop laughing and look at him. What he is doing? He is now pushing me towards the table using the leverage he has on my wrists and I can't help but staring in his blue eyes. I am not scared of him. He's never really hurt me, even in all our fights over the years.
I feel my bum hit the table, we were standing close to it anyway, but Malfoy continues to move closer and closer. I don't know what's gotten into me, but my heartbeat goes up and I am starting to get really really hot. His face is now one inch from mine, and my brain seems not be working. Otherwise I'd get myself out of that position immediately. His blue eyes are looking into my green ones, as if they're expecting to find some sort of answer in there.
"Weasley, you drive me fucking insane" he whispers. And then his lips crash on mine.
I don't react at first. I don't know what's happening. His lips are so soft. Something wakes up in me, and I try to free my wrists to push him away. This is wrong, I can't kiss fucking Malfoy. Malfoy doesn't let go of me, and pushes me harder against the table. He is much taller than me, and uses his advantage to keep me blocked where I am. If this kiss started off soft, it doesn't stay like that. Seeing me trying to fight back makes Malfoy even more determined to kiss me. I feel his tongue entering my mouth without even asking for permission. And then it hits me. This is just another way to fight for dominance. I'm not going to let him win.
I start kissing him back with all I have, trying to take control, to make him beg me. Beg for what I don't even know, but my brain stopped functioning a while ago. He noticed the change in response, and lets go of my wrists to tangle his hands in my hair and to deepen the kiss. He is the best kisser in this whole fucking universe. I feel my toes curl, and my hands grip his shirt to pull him closer.
His tongue is fighting with mine to dominate the kiss, and his hands leave my hair to slide on my hips. I think now is my turn to mess with his hair. I grip his blond mess and use it to pull him closer to me, feeling the difference in height was getting annoying and painful for my neck. He seems to be turned on by this, and slides his hands under my skirt and on my ass. He squeezes it briefly before using his arm strength to lift me up on the table. It's easier to kiss like this. I don't know what's gotten into me, and I feel my legs wrap around his waist, as if I couldn't control my body anymore.
I am intoxicated by his smell, and unable to think properly. His hands are everywhere, and mine are discovering every centimetre of his sculpted torso. I am so hot, and I am not only speaking about general body temperature. I feel it to my core, and I want more.
He presses his body to mine, and I am surprised to feel something pressing against my stomach. Fuck, Malfoy is hard! This makes an alarm bell go off in my head, this is wrong. This is so wrong! I push him away and at the same time I hear Slughorn's door open. I quickly jump off the table and push Malfoy away before Slughorn sees anything.
"Ah my dear, I see you've finished! Good job. Now off to bed, and please behave next time! Goodnight!" he says and goes back in his office.
I quickly look at Malfoy, who is visibly shocked and looks like a fish out of water. With the mouth open and everything. I don't want to talk about this. I just want to forget it happened. I quickly grab my bag and run away towards the Ravenclaw tower.