Ah finally, arguably one of the most famous Coldplay songs :) Its been really hard for me to continue this story, I've lost all my original plans, and have made new ones. Please enjoy this next chapter - Scorose all the way xx
Also PLEASE REVIEW! I'm not doing this for reviews, but it doesn't hurt to get some feedback and to know who is reading this story! As I said a long time ago (back when I started this story, so many years ago) this is my fave, so I think it deserves a little love!
I'm so excited to be back writing, so please look at my other stories too because - you guessed it, I'll be updating them as well! Also as this is the 3rd to last chapter ( :o - there are 13 songs on this album so 13 chapters) it will be a little bit longer. Sooo when it says 'b' it means later on in that day (so I can fit more in - you'll thank me I hope!)
This chapter is dedicated to Bourbon & Chocolate - xx Potty
When you try your best but you don't succeed
When you get what you want but not what you need
When you feel so tired but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse
When the tears come streaming down your face
'Cause you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?
I.
He sat in front of Professor McGonagall and truly pleaded his case. She had of course known his Father, and he hoped that wouldn't be held against him. Though he'd not had much contact with her, he knew that she was fair and that she truly wanted what was best for her students.
He wasn't entirely sure why he was so intent on staying, he had no interest in classes, except those he shared with Weasley. He pushed her to the back of his mind and smiled at his Principal in what he hoped was a polite and genuine way.
Strictly speaking, she had said, there were no specific rules against Muggle cigarettes, though he must stop that this instant. He had nodded, tucking his incorrect uniform shoes further under himself.
The number of classes he had missed, however, wasn't as easy to avoid. He was to have detention to make up for it. For two months. Professor Wildershin had come to his rescue, volunteering to tutor him on Saturday mornings.
She had offered him a biscuit too, which was bewildering, but he accepted gratefully. He also smiled when she said she he reminded her of a student a long time ago, and that she wasn't talking about his Father. Something to do with his hair, though it was the wrong colour, and the shoes he wore.
Maybe it wasn't just Weasley who saw something great in him.
b)
She paced back and forth outside of McGonagall's office. He couldn't be expelled, he'd been acting like this his whole Schooling career, why now was he suddenly in trouble?
She racked her brain for any instances of past students getting away with truancy, she thought about all that she'd read. There had to be a loophole somewhere! She ignored the lump in her throat and tried as hard as she could to think of a solution. The School year was so close to being over, it would be cruel to expel him now... surely McGonagall wouldn't have the heart to do that.
Her Uncles had gotten away with excessive pranking in their time, and from what she knew from Uncle Harry even before them the Marauders had wreaked havoc on these Halls, and frankly, what Malfoy was doing wasn't harming anyone else but himself.
She turned to pace again, jumping as she saw Malfoy himself standing before her, arms held up to avoid a collision. He always managed to sneak around her, undetected.
'You're out!' She exclaimed.
'It wasn't prison Weasley.' he said flippantly.
But she could see he was smiling.
'So, is this goodbye?'
He shook his head and put his tough facial expression back on. 'No. Just detention and tutoring. That little fucker Con-'
He was cut off as Rose threw her arms around his neck in a hug. Her hair tickled his chin and without thinking he hugged her back.
She pulled away from him slightly and looked up at his face. He looked different. The cold indifference had slipped away, and instead, she saw a crooked and almost goofy smile gracing his face.
Her heart beat fast and she was unsure of how much time had passed, he slowly reached down to touch her face, softly pushing her hair back behind her ear. The movement was so subtle but intimate, that her breath caught in her throat.
"Sco-"
"What's the damage?"
The two jumped apart immediately. And Malfoy moved his hands quickly into his pockets, looking down.
"Oh, uh - sorry.' Said Albus, scratching his head awkwardly.
'I'm not expelled, so there's that.' Said Malfoy, talking to Albus and Rose's shoes.
She looked at him quizzically but he refused to meet her gaze.
Albus stood awkwardly, looking back and forth between them.
She was unsure if that had really just happened.
II.
Early in the morning, she had decided to go for a walk alone. Slowly she wove her way down the path that led to Hagrid's hut. The air was crisp, but she didn't mind, she stopped to stare at wild daisies that were opening up to see the sun.
'You must be cold.'
Whipping around quickly she came face to face with Malfoy. She knew it was his voice, but still, seeing him made her jump.
'I didn't think clingy was your style, Malfoy.' Said Rose. There was a pink tinge to her cheeks, she saw him look at them. She felt an intensity behind his stare and looked away.
'I'm not clingy.' he sneered, 'But I did need to clear something up.'
'Okay?'
Rose continued down the hill, hearing his steps fall into the same rhythm as hers.
'The other day, when I...'
She stopped. Her heart was beating in her ears and she turned to face him. His hair was a lot fluffier than usual, and the rising sun was behind his head, giving him a soft halo. She chuckled to herself, thinking of this boy, her now friend. And the amount of time and effort he had put into making it seem like he didn't care about anything, and how he would feel if he could see how angelic he looked, so innocent and far from a rebel.
'When, ah, you know..'
Her heart rate sped up even more as she wondered if he was talking about their, moment. Maybe his stuttering was because he had felt something for her?
He cleared his throat. 'Look, the other day when I saw you come out of the Owlery. I wanted to apologise for what I said, about you 'giving me a show', because I don't think of you like that.' He looked to the side of her.
'Oh,' said Rose, surprised and somewhat upset but trying not to show it. 'You don't?' She asked quietly.
'Don't let it go to your head, but, you are probably my best friend.'
She couldn't help but smile at that.
'Is that an improvement from only friend?'
'I mean you tell me.' He cleared his throat. 'Shall we?' He gestured to continue walking.
She let him step in front of her, nodding sadly.
He had closed the door once again on something she thought would be amazing, and something she realised, that she wanted more than anything.
b)
She sat on her bed, curtains drawn, wand lit and parchment out.
Dear Astoria,
Thank-you for your last letter. I'm happy to say that Scorpius is still doing really well. I think he has come out of his shell a lot more, our group of friends has expanded, and Dylan (one of the new additions to the group) is encouraging him to draw. Dylan's Dad is an illustrator, so that's good for Scorpius to see I think. I hope you and Mr. Malfoy have a great trip to Paris.
Happy Easter!
Best,
Rose
She re-read what she had wrote, then folded the letter slowly. It was just enough information without revealing anything serious. She sniffed, moving everything to the side of her bed. She turned the light out and willed herself to sleep, replaying Malfoy's words in her head.
'I don't think of you like that.'
III.
He was minding his own business when it happened. It seemed to be in slow motion. It was an all too familiar scene, and it made him feel sick.
Jackson was harassing Lily Potter. He could see it in their body language from a mile away. Her backing into the wall and physically pushing him away, and him moving closer to her, speaking to her in a way that was visibly unpleasant.
He ran blindly into the situation and stood between Lily and Connor.
'No means no, Jackson!'
'Fuck off Malfoy, this is nothing to do with you.'
Connor attempted to push Scorpius to the side. His eyes narrowed, and his anger rose.
'You will regret that Jackson.'
Rolling his eyes Connor reached for his wand, but Scorpius was quicker.
'No wands this time.' He pushed Connor back and he stumbled away.
'No problem, I've been waiting for a long time to teach you a lesson. Ever since I found out what a piece of shit you were and what kind of people your family are-and ever since you've taken an interest in my sloppy red-haired seconds-'
Scorpius dove at him punching and fighting Connor, holding him down.
Lily, shaken and crying, scrambled away.
'I'd love to hear more about why you've decided to make my life a living hell, and treat me and everyone around me like shit.'
He wasn't necessarily stronger than Connor, but he was faster and taller, and he had Connor in a deadlock.
'He's not worth it Scorpius!'
He ignored Lily, throwing more punches at Connor who couldn't dodge them.
'Go on Jackson, you're all talk usually.' Connor struggled against his arm and finally spoke.
'It was you or me, wasn't it? And I - chose - me.'
Scorpius loosened his grip slightly and Connor elbowed him in the gut. But again Scorpius was quicker and held him up against the wall, his hand around his neck.
'Elaborate you sick fuck! Tell me why you did this'
'I - had - the - choice,' Connor choked out, reluctantly Scorpius loosened his grip slightly, 'Be friends with you and remain an outcast, or be popular and treat you the way you deserve to be treated. I hated being bullied and saw my chance.'
Scorpius shook his head and felt sick to the stomach. 'And so you became a bully yourself.'
Connor shrugged and kicked trying to fight back.
'Scorpius! Stop - pl-pl-please!' cried Lily.
Something inside him had snapped, and he reached for his wand.
'Scorpius Malfoy put him down THIS INSTANCE!'
He released his grip and Connor dropped to the ground, his face unreadable. He backed up slowly till he hit the opposite wall, and slowly he slid down it.
Ignoring the noise, the yelling. Faces swam before his eyes.
And then; it was over, he knew he'd be kicked out for sure.
And now he had confirmation as to why Connor had made his life so hard.
But he wasn't even thinking about that, all he could think about was that he couldn't face a goodbye with Weasley.
He had become the person he knew he was, the one that she didn't want him to be. And that was something he couldn't seem to face.
IV.
She stood in front of him, staring at her feet.
He was there with his jet black trunk covered with illustrations and all of his possessions he had with him at Hogwarts.
He looked at her sadly.
'Well. I guess you finally out-rebelled yourself. You're being kicked out now.' She sniffed.
He looked pained. He looked scared. But she knew he was still trying to appear tough; it wasn't working.
'How about we just tell them the truth about Connor? He's done so much to so many people and if-"
He held up his hand and she stopped. Then he turned it over, reaching out for hers.
She stared at it. She took it nervously, remembering the last time she tried to touch his hand.
'I don't want anyone else to fight my battles for me. This is who I am. I'm a bit of a fuck-up.'
She shook her head, 'It's not who you are. I don't like what you did, but I can understand where you were coming from of course, and he would've never left us alone otherwise and I know that you still have-'
'I am.' he cut her off and squeezed her hand 'I'm not a nice person. And that's okay. This is the way it should be. Now you can finish your School year without me.'
'But that's not what I want.'
He let go of her hand and turned away.
'Bye Weasley. Keep that bitch act up, you nearly had me.'
Tears were starting to prick the corners of her eyes but he hadn't seen.
She stood there all alone as the doors opened for him. Her hand still tingling from where he had touched her.
He seemed to move in slow motion. She waved and called after him, to no avail.
He had held her hand, but now he was gone.
V.
They all sat in silence. They were on the balcony, looking up at the stars.
'I didn't even say sorry for setting him up to see you and Connor.'
'Well, Dylan, you haven't said sorry to me about that either.'
'Sorry, Rose.'
'I didn't get to thank him for saving me from Connor.'
'I'm bloody thankful he saved you from Connor, no-one gets to try that with my sister.' Albus cleared his throat uncomfortably.
'Why were we all friends with him, and Lily why did we date him?'
'Why was he always so against Scorpius?'
'It's weird to hear you say Scorpius, Al. But I guess he's done us all a favour so maybe we should call him that.' Reasoned Lily.
'I don't think I can, he'll always be Malfoy to me.'
'Your Malfoy.'
'Shut it, Lily.'
'Guys I'm going to go talk to McGonagall.'
'Al, he said he didn't want that.'
'Who gives a shit Rose, he's our friend, and we owe him, and McGonagall really, the truth.'
'I'm with you!' Joined Dylan.
'Boys! Dylan no!' Rose saw the pure look of determination on each of her friend's faces and conceded. 'Oh, fucks sake okay let's go clear his bloody name.'
Dylan and Lily looked at each other in shock as Rose cursed.
'And then maybe you can finally get in each other's pants?'
'LILY SHUT UP!'
They all stood up, one after another, hurrying off to tell the full truth. She sighed, he better not be mad at her for this, but the thought of continuing the next few school months without him was unbearable. She'd much rather face the wrath of Malfoy, then not face him at all.
Lights will guide, you home. And ignite your bones. And I will try, to fix you.
That's it for today! Bonus points if you can guess who Scorpius reminded McGonagall of? And yes she has gone a little soft in her old age :)
xx