"You did what to Scorpius Malfoy?!" Lily's mouth hangs open unattractively, her voice cutting through the dull buzz of sleepy morning conversations in the Great Hall.
"Lily, shut up," I hiss as several other Gryffindors glance over in interest at the mention of the Head Boy. Interest is piqued when they notice their Head Girl is flushed red.
"You kissed Scor—?!" I launch myself over the table and roughly cover Lily's mouth with the palm of my hand.
"Shut up, Potter, or so help me, I'll —"
"Good morning, Rosie. Sister dear," Lily and I are interrupted by the Dynamic Duo of Albus and Scorpius who swagger up to the table, greeting us in turn. Scorpius and I can barely look each other in the eye.
"Morning, Al," we chorus. "Scorpius." I add, casually sitting back in my seat, flashing my eyes at Lily in a desperate warning. The boys join us at the table, Albus sits beside his sister, and Scorpius seats himself next to me.
"How are you this morning, Scorp?" Lily asks brightly and I kick her hard under the table. She doesn't even flinch but Albus gives a grunt and his eyes water. He gives me an annoyed look.
"Sorry," I mutter. "My leg slipped."
"I'm very well thank you, Lily," Scorpius replies politely, picking a piece of toast from the rack in front of us.
"And how are you, Rosie?" Albus asks meaningfully, and I swear he knows more than he lets on. Both Potter siblings have the same scheming glint in their eyes.
There is no family loyalty. I think to myself bitterly.
"I'm fine," I reply shortly, giving my cousins a hard stare. I feel Scorpius shifting beside me. His movement reminds me of how close we kept getting on the sofa last night and I feel my stomach flip pleasantly at the memory, and then promptly cringe as I remember how awkward I was. Why did I feel the need to kiss Scorpius? God, Rose, why.
"You're fine?" Scorpius asks coolly and I freeze.
"Surely you'd know how she was? You do share a common room after all," Albus says slyly and I flash my eyes at him.
"Well I'm sure I would have known if she had been there this morning," Scorpius says airily, pouring himself coffee. I gulp. So he noticed that I deliberately got up early to avoid him then. Damn it.
I look at Lily and try to desperately communicate with my eyes to her not to leave me. She looks as if she understands my silent plea. I dare hope.
"Albus, may I call upon your extensive Potions knowledge and ask for your help with my homework?" Lily pipes up suddenly. My hopes fall and shatter at my feet.
If possible, Albus looks even more gleeful. "Why yes, sister; yes, you may. See you two later!"
I widen my eyes in horror at Lily, silently begging her not to leave. She grins at me.
"Bye guys!" Albus and Lily leave the table and as they retreat, I can see their shoulders shaking with laughter. Assholes.
"I'm going up to the common room," I announce, cutting the awkwardness.
"I'll come up with you," Scorpius says, either recognizing my excuse to leave him and not letting me, or being completely ignorant. I have a sinking feeling that it's not the latter.
The walk up to our shared common room has never felt so long. We're silent the entire time, save for the occasional comments on portraits and younger students.
Eventually, we reach the seventh floor, and we're both finally alone in the common room: the atmosphere is unbearable.
"I'm sorry I walked out," I say suddenly. "Last night. When … when we kissed. I'm sorry I just stood up and walked out."
Scorpius shrugs. "It doesn't matter."
"It does," I take a deep breath. "I enjoyed it." My voice shaking with nerves.
Scorpius glances at me to see if I'm joking or not. "So did I." He tells me.
I smile a little. "Good." I clear my throat. "Okay so … we should do some work for the Winter Ball. It is tonight, after all."
"Sure."
The atmosphere has eased, but not completely. I feel humiliated by the way I acted last night, but Scorpius is being aloof and seems not to care too much. We sit next to each other at the table and lay out the plans for the Winter Ball.
It's boring and tedious, but for once, Scorpius is doing most of the mental gymnastics. It takes us a few hours, but eventually, we're done. Completely done.
I release a breath. "Thank Merlin that's over," I say finally.
"Amen to that," Scorpius concedes. "Do you want a drink?"
I check my watch. "Scorpius, it's 11am."
"I'll take that as a yes then."
"Scorp," I laugh. "No, come on; let's take all this to McGonagall."
He huffs, but in good humour. "Fine. But then can we drink?"
I ignore him.
We head to McGonagall's office and offload the plans. She's impressed that it's done (and by Malfoy's general presence), and it's finally sorted that the Great Hall will be decked out in ice sculptures and enchanted snow, ready for the Winter Ball that evening.
The rest of the day passes companionably and finally, Scorpius and I head down to the Great Hall together to do some last minute checking of the decorations. I'm wearing a loose navy pull over and black leggings, everything about my appearance screaming 'I want a night in'. We enter the hall and I gasp involuntarily. It's beautiful.
Everything is white and glittering. The place looks as if it should be freezing cold, but it's fairly temperate. The enchanted ceiling is snowing and all along the walls are ice sculptures of the Hogwarts house mascots. There are several circular tables, each dusted with enchanted snow and
"It's perfect," I say in awe.
"We certainly make a good team," Scorpius says and when I turn to him, his eyes wide in a childlike wonder.
I scoff. "What do you mean, 'we'?!" I ask indignantly.
"I'm sorry," he looks at me with a playful smile. "You did an amazing job planning this."
"I just wish it wasn't compulsory for me to be there, Merlin, I hate these kind of events," I wring my hands together in anxiety.
Scorpius is watching me carefully. "What is your problem with this? It's just a stupid Winter Ball."
I pull a face at him. "Yes, well, I wouldn't expect you to understand." I mutter and turn away from him. Scorpius doesn't say anything to me. "Right, well I think we're all done here." I say breezily.
"I hate it when you do that," Scorpius tells me suddenly.
"Excuse me?"
"You did it last night and you're doing it now; why do you refuse to talk to me?" Scorpius seems to be done with his minor rant as he clocks the surprised look on my face. He flushes and drops his eyes. "I'm sorry. That was rude."
The heavy atmosphere is back again.
I check my watch. "We'd better start getting ready." I say tightly with a false cheeriness.
"Sure," Scorpius agrees. "I'll see you later."
"Later, Scorp." I give him a wave before making my way up to the common room and into my dorm room. I shower and perform a drying charm on my hair before stepping out into my room and pulling out the dress for tonight and laying it on my bed.
"Right." I murmur to the dress with dread.
A few weeks ago, Lily had dragged me into Hogsmeade to buy a dress, knowing how clueless and unenthusiastic I am when it comes to fashion, and certainly to the prospect of this ball.
I sit at my dressing table in just my underwear and battle with liquid liner, mascara, even coverage, and finally a slash of red lipstick. I twist my hair up simply at the back, leaving my pale neck and shoulders completely exposed. I can't help but think how elegant I look for once.
There's a knock on the door. "Rose? I left my jacket with Al earlier so I'm going to go and get it. I'll see you outside the hall in a bit, okay? Oh – and Lily's here."
"Alright," I call back through the door and as I hear his footsteps retreating, I hear an excited patter of feet until my door is flung open.
"Well you're not going out like that," Lily says with a broad grin.
"Shut your face." I reply shortly. Lily cackles. She sweeps into the room in a low plunge green silk gown, looking beautiful.
"Show me the dress," she demands, her eyes wild and excited. "And stop sulking." I groan and begrudgingly slide off my chair.
I step into the dress and when I look into the mirror, I am actually fairly surprised by my reflection. The dress is full length and fitted with a sweetheart neckline. It's an appropriately coloured pale, silvery blue, with an iridescence to it which is shifting and flattering to my complexion. Well done, Lily.
"Let me do you up at the back," Lily says and I turn. She pulled the ties on the corset at the back tight and I give a little scream.
"Shit, Lil." I protest. "I still need to breathe."
"Oh shut up; it makes your boobs look amazing," Lily tells me and when I look in the mirror again, I see she's actually right.
"Yes," I agree tightly. "But my internal organs are being crushed here."
"Women suffer for their beauty." Lily shrugs. "Are you ready to go down?"
I give a longer, more frustrated groan. "Yeah, I'm ready. I need to meet Scorpius before everyone else gets there."
"Alright. I'm going back to the dorm for a bit so I'll see you later," I reply flatly, reaching down and picking up the pair of silver heels and straightening up with them in my hands. I'm trying to put off wearing them until I really have to.
We walk out together and part ways as I make my way barefoot down to the Entrance Hall. I'm there before Scorpius and take this time to slip my heels on. After a moment, Scorpius rounds the corner in a grey suit with a silver tie. My breath catches in my throat.
"You look beautiful," Scorpius says, his voice sounding a little strained.
"Thank you," I blush and struggle to meet his eyes. "So do you."
Scorpius looks amused. "I look beautiful?"
I laugh, breaking the tension. "No! You look … handsome." I falter, the anxiety of tonight suddenly washing over me again. I wring my hands.
"Rose," Scorpius catches my hands in his, covering them and protecting them. I look at him, surprised. He looks concerned and his eyes are soft. "Please, tell me what's wrong. I've not pushed it, but I really need you to tell me what's wrong now."
"It's nothing – I just really hate things like this."
Scorpius doesn't say anything. I know he's frustrated that I won't let him in.
"Look, if you need anything … just let me know." He says finally, letting go of my hands. I wish he was still holding them.
He offers me his arm. "You ready to go in?"
I sigh. "If we must."