Chapter 5: Welcome To The Game

Sitting down at dinner Louis's mind, like always, was far away from the overfull table they were all sitting at. It took loud laughter and "No, no, no! Do you remember Louis?" to pull him out of his thoughts.

One too many drinks and of course the embarrassing stories came out. Louis's eyes flicked nervously over to where Scorpius Malfoy sat across from him, an intruder on their family affairs. It was only for a split second, and he hadn't meant to look at him. The next moment his eyes were back on his drunken aunt, whose hands waved about dramatically as she recited the story with great enthusiasm. Louis braced himself, and groaned once he realised what the story was. Why him? Why now?

"He was more into the dolls than his sisters were," continued Aunt Audrey in the 'gossiping mum' tone that all children know too well. "When we'd mind the three of them, Louis would sit there with our girls, brushing the dolls' hair and trying them into their different clothes, while his sisters would go out and play Quidditch!" She howled with laughter that was echoed fondly around the table.

Louis sunk deeper into his chair, his cheeks reddening. There was no point denying these events, as much as he wanted to (come on, he'd been about five!) -then the photo evidence would come out.

The conversation had moved on anyway. Now being discussed was the first time James had rode a full sized broomstick and had been so eager that in his excitement he'd crashed it straight into a brick wall.

Again Louis couldn't help but to glance to the other side of the table. Scorpius was looking right at him and when he saw Louis look back he smirked over the rim of his glass. Catching Louis's eyes he mouthed a word that made Louis's blood run cold. "Faggot."

White hot anger clenched in his gut and before he even think he was pulling his wand out of the pocket of his jeans and directing it at Malfoy under the table, his pretty blue eyes narrowing dangerously. And Scorpius looked amused. Amused! Louis muttered the incantation under his breath. (What did it matter that he wasn't quite yet seventeen when he was in a house full of overage wizards and witches?)

There was a loud bang and Scorpius's chair exploded beneath him. It sent him flying backwards before he crashed into the wall behind him and collapsed into a heap on the floor below.

The room was silent for a moment as everyone stared at Scorpius in shock, before erupting with noise. Granddad Weasley was clapping.

Scorpius was sprawled across the wreckage of his chair, spluttering in the dust.

Stuffing his hands in his pockets Louis stormed from the room, flicking his fringe back as he did so, leaving near chaos in his wake.

You could say what you liked about Louis Weasley, but you couldn't say he didn't have style.


Al's brow furrowed as he watched Louis leave the room. He looked around quickly to see that no one had taken any note of his sudden departure (and spared a glance at Scorpius, of course, to make sure he was still alive. What kind of friend did you take him for?) before deciding to follow after his cousin. He skirted around the table and slipped out the door, closing it gently shut behind him.

Louis sat on the old swing-set, swinging back and forth slowly. Albus couldn't see his face and moved hesitantly to the swing next to him, hoping he'd calmed down a little. It was dangerous to mess with any Weasley when they were angry, and Louis was certainly not an exception to this rule. Al took a seat. Louis didn't even turn to look at him.

"Any particular reason why you're firing hexes at my best friend?" Al asked mildly.

"I didn't do anything," Louis lied automatically, but his tone was defensive.

"I saw you take your wand from your pocket and aim at it him. A second later he was flying through the air." He grinned. It was easy on this cool, calm night. "What do you expect me to believe?"

"Uhh, yeah. Sorry about that…"

"Don't worry; I'm tempted to do the same thing sometimes."

Louis just nodded, still staring straight ahead. Al got the impression that he was only partly listening to him. He sighed and run his hand through his messy black hair. "Just wondering," he began slowly after a few moments silence, "What exactly did he say to you?"

Louis finally turned around at that. "What?" he asked, his voice suddenly cold. His eyes, guarded.

"I know he must have said something. He always does."

Louis bit down on his lip, and shifted his glare to the garden. He glared into the dark, and bit down harder. No, he would not be sharing that.

"You just have to ignore him," Al advised. "As hard as it is. Scorpius has this way of getting to people. It's hard to explain, and I don't think I've quite worked it out myself. I think I'm immune to it or something. Or he just doesn't try it on me, whatever it is exactly." He paused for a moment, thinking. "You just have to know that he's so easily bored and everything's a game to him. Entertainment. He'll build you up then tear you down and then head down to dinner. He just doesn't care. And he knows what makes people tick. He's just dangerous. He'll see through people's walls as if they're not even there, and he notices everything. He can get to anyone, they'll want to kill him or marry him or maybe both and he'll just laugh."

Louis stared him for a long moment, thinking hard. He didn't know that Al Potter could get deep. A small part of him wondered if Al had given this speech before. "Why are you friends with him?" he asked eventually. Partly curious, partly just feeling that he had to say something.

"Safer than being his enemy," Al replied, only half joking.

Louis wasn't really paying attention though. "I'm not letting him get to me," he said, suddenly defensive. "He just said one thing. It pissed me off. I reacted. End of story."

Al shook his head sadly, gazing out at the garden himself now. "It won't be, though," he said quietly.

"I think you're being a bit dramatic."

"You don't know him like I do," Al said, his tone serious. "You bit back, now welcome to the game." There was a note of finality to Al's tone, as if he was finally accepting something himself, and he kicked off the swing.

Louis stared after his cousin as he headed back towards the house. "This is ridiculous," he snapped, angrily.

"Just ignore him, alright," warned Al, stopping at the door. "Don't get involved; don't let him get to you. Just be careful." He walked in and slammed the door shut behind him.

Louis's eyes narrowed dangerously. The thing was he did not like being told what to do.


He was off the floor now. Dinner was over and everyone had headed into the other room. Al and Louis were outside and Scorpius was making to join them when Rose grabbed him by the wrist, pulled him into the deserted room behind her and slammed the door shut behind them.

"Wha-?" Scorpius began in protest before Rose shut him up by slamming a hand over his mouth and shoving him against the wall with her other hand.

"Shhh!" she hissed, but lowered her hand from his mouth. However she didn't step away. She was so, so close and Scorpius was really quite aware of it.

"You're awfully forward," he drawled, the moment he was free to do so.

"Will you shut up," Rose stressed, raising her wand in warning.

Scorpius's eyebrows flew to his hairline. "I'm sorry," he said, sounding quite the opposite. "I don't know if you're aware, but you've locked me in a room and pinned me to a wall. I do apologise for holding some objections."

Rose pushed her wand into the base of Scorpius's neck, but otherwise ignored his comment. "I need you to do me a favour," she said.

"I'm not going to sleep with you."

Rose rolled her eyes, "Oh please, I'm not after that."

Scorpius's eyes trailed from her face that was barely inches from his and slowly down to her body that was still pressed against his. "You could've fooled me," he said, raising an eyebrow.

Rose lowered her wand and stepped back half a step and then- "Go out with me," she demanded suddenly.

For the first time since being forced into that room Scorpius looked shocked. "Uhh, no."

Rose rolled her eyes, again. "Not really go out, Scorpius," she said, as if he was an idiot for even thinking so. "We just need to pretend."

"Oh! So it's like a game," cried Scorpius, sounding slightly hysterical, "How fun!"

"I just can't go back without someone, alright?" explained Rose. If she'd been anyone else but Rose she would've sounded embarrassed, or pleading. As it was she just sounded slightly exasperated. How did she always manage to make it sound like Scorpius was the unreasonable one?

"You've left it a little last minute," said Scorpius blandly, as if they were discussing homework. Rose just looked at him. Scorpius sighed. After a few moments he asked, "Are you trying to make someone jealous?"

Rose bit her lip, deliberating. "Yeah," she answered, although it was only partly true. Jealousy would just be a bonus. Actually she'd be lucky if he did feel jealous. A sick feeling crawled into her stomach and she forced back the memories, the emotions. Focus, Rose.

"Well I can see why you chose me then."

Rose kicked at his foot, but not hard. "Will you do it then?" she asked in a small voice, looking up at Scorpius from under her eyelashes pleadingly. It was very un-Rose.

Scorpius looked at her. "Say please."

Rose glared, eyes narrowing. Well, that didn't last long. "Please," she said, her voice sickly sweet.

Scorpius stepped away from the wall, clearly wanting to take at least some control of this strange situation, and began pacing back and forth, thinking. "What's in it for me?" he asked after a while.

Rose was now leaning against the wall, arms folded casually, watching Scorpius. She grinned wryly at his question. "I thought you'd jump at a chance to shock the masses," she said. It was true; everyone knew that Scorpius Malfoy lived to cause a scene.

Scorpius thought of his father, and what he'd say if he even heard that his son was dating a Weasley. Then he thought of the other Weasley, and- "Yeah," he said, nodding, "I'll do it."