10

'Hey Carrots!'

Not again. Rose rolled her eyes and continued down the Charms corridor.

'Carrots! Weasley!'

'What?' beat out Rose through clenched teeth.

'Oooo, aren't we the dazzling sunshine today!'

If looks could kill, Malfoy would have been a pile of ashes by now. In fact, Rose was rather proud of her 'death glare'. Helped ward off unnecessary attention. But Scorpius, being Scorpius, just sauntered upto her with a smirk plastered on his face.

'Trust me Malfoy, if this is about that blasted Transfiguration test once again, I swear I'd crumple your test paper and shove it up your…'

'Language Weasley. Tsk tsk. You swear worse than a drunk Mundungus! And are you by any chance referring to the test where you came second, because I must tell…'

Scorpius never got to finish the sentence. Rose had launched herself at him and had proceeded to pummel every inch of his body she could lay her hands on.

'Hey! Watch it! OW! What thmmph…! GERROFF!

'If you THINK you can make FUN of ME every chance you GET, you've ANOTHER think coming, MISTER SCORPION! HYPERACTIVE! MALFOY!' each loudly uttered word was punctuated by a sharp punch.

'OUCH! What's wrong with you?!'

'YOU! You slimy git!'

'MISS WEASLEY!'

Rose froze with a hand clutching Malfoy's collar and the other one pulled back in a punch.

'Honestly…I never…you two…' spluttered Professor McGonagall looking angry and astonished. When she finally got over the shock she managed to utter through flared nostrils, 'Both. My office. NOW. And thirty points from Gryffindor.'

'What?! No! Professor, you can't!' they both exclaimed. But that was clearly the wrong thing to say.

Professor McGonagall seemed to swell in anger. 'Another thirty from Gryffindor,' she thundered. 'And be thankful it isn't more for the abominable behavior you two were displaying in the corridor. Now if you would kindly step into my office.' She whirled round and trod purposefully towards her office.

Rose had never seen Professor McGonagall so angry before. Her brows were fused to make a straight dark line and her lips had almost disappeared. They stepped inside and McGonagall snapped the door shut. Then her fury broke.

It was worse than the Howler her aunt had once sent to James. For one, the displeased person was present right in front of them. And two, they had no idea when it would end. Five minutes into the reprimand, Rose had tuned out the scolding and was contemplating numerous methods to murder Malfoy. Phrases like 'from my own House', 'no shame', 'fighting in broad daylight', 'absolute disregard for rules' floated to her ears but she didn't pay much attention. She was having a particularly gruesome Malfoy murder fantasy involving a rampaging hippogriff and a hot cauldron full of potion when she heard McGonagall say, 'You will be notified about the time and place of Friday's detention. You may go now.'

Detention! She had never had a single lost House point to her credit till this moment! And now she had detention. Great. Just great. And on Friday too. Wait, what?!

'But Professor,' she shrunk under McGonagall's stern gaze. 'You surely don't mean this Friday?'

'Yes Miss Weasley. This Friday. That would teach you to think before acting rashly in the future.'

'B-b-but…'

'Enough, Miss Weasley. Leave, before I change my mind and decide to send a letter to your mother after all.'

Rose's face resembled the colour of her hair. She hurriedly left McGonagall's office along with Malfoy. They left their separate ways without glancing at each other.

Rose was stewing inside. She was ready to rip Malfoy's heart out. It was all his fault. Not only had he beaten her at the Transfiguration test but also had the audacity to flaunt it at her every opportunity he got. Had he not riled her she would not have lost her cool and flown at him. And in turn, McGonagall wouldn't have found them fighting and deducted points and given them detention. On Friday. The day she was specifically reserving to complete her one foot long History of Magic article and the Potions essay AND the Astronomy chart.

Oh yes. She was going to Rip. His. Heart. Out.

With a rusty blade.

oooooo

Whenever in trouble, find Al. That was Scorpius's solution to any Rose-related problem. And this was a problem of enormous proportions. He hitched his satchel higher onto his back and set out to find his best friend.

Al and Scorpius had become almost inseparable within one year. The initial hostility had dissolved into a beautiful friendship that had left many envious. The Unexpected Duo, as the two came to be called, often studied together and were seen fooling around in each other's dormitories. Hagrid often loved to remark, 'These two ha' taken ta each other like Nifflers to galleons.'

Unfortunately Rose turned out to be a tougher nut to crack. Scorpius found himself constantly at loggerheads with her, which was not much of a surprise actually. Both were brilliant in studies. Both competed against each other for the top spot. To the point of being almost ruthless sometimes. And none took to being second in anything kindly. Moreover Scorpius always went out of his way to rile Rose. He felt it a complete waste of time if he had not had a verbal spur with her at least once each day.

For gone was the pale scared kid who needed 'rescuing'. Scorpius had grown into a very handsome boy and had developed a swagger and a smirk that could rival his father's. That, together with his courteous behavior, made a lethal combination. Girls could never resist his charm. Except for one. Rose. That brought his mind back to the present problem.

Al was busy poring over a huge Herbology book in the library when Scorpius arrived. He looked up eagerly when his best friend plonked down on a chair beside him.

'Well?'

Silence.

'Did you manage to get it?'

'It' was the Herbology essay he had sent Scorp to fetch from Rosie.

'No I did not,' ground out Scorpius. 'What I managed to get instead is sixty points deducted from my own bloody House AND a detention!'

Albus did a mental face-palm. Trust Scorp to bungle a simple task involving Rose.

'What did you do this time?'

'I didn't do anything this time,' grumbled Scorp.

'What happened?!'

'There I was, merrily walking down the Charms corridor to ask her for her article, and the next thing I know, she is throwing a complete hissy fit and jumping at my throat. Honestly, that girl should be kept in a strait jacket if you ask me.'

'Are you sure that's how it happened?' countered Albus.

'Yeah!'

Albus raised one eyebrow.

'Well, I might have called her 'Carrots'.'

Albus groaned.

'And I might have mentioned the Transfiguration test. Though she raised the topic first,' Scorp added quickly in defence.

Albus did an actual face-palm this time. 'Scorp! You idiot! You know she doesn't like your so-called affectionate nickname. And you just had to mention that test!'

Scorpius had the good sense to look sheepish.

'Sorry.'

Albus slammed his book shut earning him many disapproving stares from neighbouring seventh years.

'Don't apologize to me you idiot. Find Rosie and apologize to her.' He added as an advice, 'And leave your 'Malfoy' pride behind when you do. I have a very strong suspicion it would take a serious beating if you take it along.'

He started dumping all his books and spare parchments into his bulging satchel. Then he dragged his ink-stained fingers through his unruly hair. 'Why do you tease her so mercilessly though?' he turned to Scorp.

Scorpius shrugged. He didn't know either. Albus gave him a queer look before shaking his head. 'Anyway, let's get down to the Great Hall. I'm starving.'

They walked out of the library, Scorpius telling Al every detail, right down to what had passed in McGonagall's office. They were approaching the stairs when Albus remarked, 'You know, you should be more worried about this detention.'

'Why?!'

'I heard Dad say that once he and Professor Longbottom and Aunt Hermione had to go into the Dark Forest for their detention. McGonagall had caught them sneaking into Hagrid's place in the evening! Wait! Your dad was there too!' he turned to Scorpius surprised. 'Didn't your dad ever tell you the story?'

Scorpius shook his head. 'He doesn't tell me much about his student life. Not much happy memories I suppose.'

'Hmm. Anyway dad said it was a horrible experience. He had gone deep into the forest to look for an injured Unicorn when he came upon Voldemort drinking its blood!'

'B-b-but that's dangerous!'

'It was. But thanks to Professor Firenze, he got out alive. Dad says he never looked at the Dark Forest in the same way again.'

'Dost mine ears deceive me? Are you two wee little things planning to go into the Dark Forest?' Henry Finnegan enquired from somewhere behind them.

Albus scoffed, ' Please. We were just discussing the possibilities of the Dark Forest being a suitable place for detention.'

'Detention? Did someone say detention?' James Potter had joined the group. James and Henry were fast friends like Al and Scorp. They were two years senior to the Duo and were registered mischief-makers. They were rumoured to have befriended Peeves, the poltergeist who was a nuisance himself. Both were Gryffindors.

'So…,' said James, slinging an arm over Al's shoulders, 'Who got detention, little brother? Did you do something prodigiously horrible to make me proud?'

'Shut up James,' he replied between Henry's sniggers. 'As to your enquiry, no I didn't. It's Scorpius.'

James did a double take. 'You!' he said in mock horror. His face split into a mischievous smile. 'Welcome to the club mate,' he said, adding in an accurate imitation of Professor Trelawney, 'You, my boy, are in grave danger.'

Henry was doubled over in laughter. Albus and Scorpius exchanged quizzical looks.

'What's so funny?' asked Scorpius.

'No-nothing,' gasped Henry.

They went down to the Great Hall together and piled their plates with food. Al and Scorpius sat a little way removed from the two seniors. Al had his nose buried in his History of Magic textbook as usual, while he continued looking around. The senior's behavior was irritating him. They were looking at him from time to time and sniggering constantly. He scowled.

When their behavior started getting on his nerves, they approached and James said, 'Good luck to your detention. And hope you have had a robust lunch, Malfoy.'

'And why is that?'

'Because we are betting you won't be eating anything anytime soon,' supplied Henry.

Scorpius eyed the two suspiciously. 'Did you put something in my food?'

'You wound us Malfoy,' said James, pulling a hurt face.

'No,' Finnegan rejoined, 'We just heard…'

'That Filch is…'

'Planning to make the next student who gets detention…' they gave each other devilish grins.

'Planning to make him do what?' enquired Albus, sipping his pumpkin juice.

'Scrub the bedpans in the Hospital wing. Without magic!'

Albus spewed pumpkin juice everywhere. Scorpius gagged on his mouthful before pushing away his plate. His stomach roiled. The seniors left them amidst gales of laughter.

'You know,' remarked Albus, wiping away pumpkin juice from his textbook, 'You shouldn't take everything my wonderful brother says seriously. I bet he wanted to have some laugh, that's all.'

Scorpius still looked revolted.

oooooo