A/N Hi there! Another new chapter added to the ever-growing story of two of our favourite characters, Rose Weasley and Scorpius Malfoy. I would greatly appreciate any suggestions on character development or plot twist, in fact anything, so long as it goes with the storyline. So far I have been able to show glimpses of a romance hidden between the sweet camaraderie between these two protagonists. What do you guys think? Have a look at the chapter and let me know! and as you know by now, reviews are very much appreciated. It speeds up my creativity.
Disclaimer: All original Harry Potter characters are the express property of J. K. Rowling. I own the story and the mistakes.
Thursday morning dawned bright and cheerful. A light spate of rain the previous day had everybody worrying about the match. But now it had all cleared up into a dazzling blue sky with wispy snow-white clouds.
Scorpius smoothed a hand over his brand new Trailblazer 140 and sighed softly. It still smelt of wood polish and had straight, evened out twigs. It had been delivered by two big barn owls in the midst of breakfast yesterday. All his friends had cheered and whistled, knowing full well how much it would increase their chances of winning the match. Amelia had thumped him on the back and skipped to alert the other team-mates. But Scorpius only had eyes for the note attached to the package. A letter written in his mother's elegant and loopy handwriting—
Dearest son,
We are overjoyed to hear from you. You rarely write to us and so this comes as a lovely surprise. Your father is immensely pleased to find that you have been selected for the House team (he was a seeker during his student life.) We are hale and hearty but miss you every moment of every day. Don't forget to write as often as you can. Eat properly. Because health is more important than grades. Wear a scarf to class if it is chilly outside. And don't forget to consult Madame Pomfrey if you catch a cold.
As for your request, of course we wouldn't mind. Do let us know what you think of our gift. Your father was thinking of going to watch your very first match. Unfortunately a summons from the Ministry has made it impossible. All the best for the match dear. Dad sends his love.
Hugs,
Mom.
P.S. How are Albus and Rose?
Scorpius inhaled the letter once again. It smelled faintly of cinnamon and the perfume that his mother wore most of the time. It smelt of home. He folded it carefully and put it away in his trunk. A faint glow had formed in the region of his chest. Dad had wanted to come to his match! That was definitely something.
Pocketing his wand he shouldered his broom and climbed out of the portrait hole. His dorm-mates had thumped his back and wished him luck before disappearing to the Great Hall. Classes had been suspended for the day. Most of the students were making their way to the stadium. He spied Rose surrounded by her cousins. She looked green. Shaking his head, he walked up to the Weasley-Potter clan.
Since the incident at the owlery stairs, he and Rose had come to a mutual understanding never to mention it. However that had not affected their friendship. In fact, both of them had become more relaxed around each other. Perhaps it was because they had seen each other at their weakest point and hadn't judged. Whatever the reason, they found themselves hanging out with each other more and more. Studying had never been more fun.
'You ok?' he grabbed a sandwich from the plate sitting in front of her.
'No she isn't,' snapped Lily, Al's younger sister. She was the same age as Hugo and a complete hoyden. She also happened to be the darling of her cousins.
'She won't eat anything,' supplied Victoire. She was a sixth year Ravenclaw and the eldest of the Weasley cousins. She was a very popular student due to her part-Veela ancestry. She shifted to make room for Scorpius. The rest of the cousins just shook their head and started walking out of the hall.
Scorpius sighed. Rose looked close to throwing up.
'Hey Carrots!' he teased, 'Want to bet on how many goals I can save before you catch the snitch?'
'I'm in!' chirped Lily.
'No you're not,' scolded Victoire, tugging her away, 'Aunt Ginny will have my head if she hears you placing bets.' They walked away, grumbling (on Lily's part) and scolding (on Victoire's), leaving Scorpius and Rose alone. Rose rolled her eyes but there was a definite upward curve to her lips.
Feeling encouraged, he held out a sandwich, 'C'mon Carrots. Eat something or you might faint in the middle of the match.'
She punched him on the arm before taking a small bite.
'There. See? It isn't so hard. Now eat the whole thing so that we can go down to the changing room together.'
'What if we lose?'
Scorpius blew out an exasperated breath, 'Nobody would blame you. Relax. Half of Gryffindor House is related to you! The rest are too scared of the combined force of the Weasley-Potter clan. Trust me. Nobody with a regard for his limbs and life would venture to blame you.'
That earned him another punch.
'Ouch! Hey! I need my arms in working order!'
'Keep uttering such nonsense and no part of you would be in working order.'
They joked and teased all the way to the Quidditch ground. By the time they had changed into their jerseys, Rose was back to her stubborn, sharp-tongued self.
Captain Zach was not pleased. 'Where have you two been?' she shouted, livid, 'I was wondering if you had decided to bunk the match!' The rest of the team sniggered behind their hands, but she cast them such a glower that they gulped.
Amelia addressed the team, 'Alright everyone. You know what to do. Wilkins and Potter, try your best to keep the bludgers out my chasers' way. Andrews and Carlos, you two, look out for my signals and never break formation unless I say so. Malfoy, keep flying between the hoops. Do not be static. And Weasley,' she turned to Rose, 'Keep out of the way until you spot the Snitch.'
Everyone nodded.
'Right. Good luck everyone and let's win this game.'
They cheered and turned towards the entrance. The field beyond the door was buzzing like a hornet's nest. Gregory Smithkins, a fourth year Hufflepuff boomed into the mouthpiece, 'Welcome to the first inter-House match of the season, GRYFFINDOR versus RAVENCLAW!' amidst deafening cheers from the onlookers.
'For the Gryffindor team, we give you—Zach, Andrews, Carlos, Potter, Wilkins, Malfoy aaaand Weasley!' A loud cheer of 'POTTER' and 'WEASLEY' went up among the Gryffindor onlookers, quickly drowned by boos from the rest of the Houses.
'Here comes the Ravenclaw team. I wonder who the new seeker might be now that Jenkins is gone. Give it up for—Menos, Travis, Drew, Patel, Wallander, Hudson aaaaand…is that Albus Potter…Oh My God! It IS Albus Potter!'
The crowd went ballistic among shouts of 'POTTER', 'POTTER'. Nobody knew which Potter they were cheering.
'This is classic – this is wonderful – this is beyond my wildest imaginations – Potter versus Potter – Oh we'll enjoy this match trust me –
Professor McGonagall glared at him.
'Uh – sorry for getting a little carried away – so without further ado let the match begin – and here comes Madame Hooch – she has graciously agreed to referee once again – the captains are moving forward to do the customary handshake – let's hope they don't break each other's bones –
'SMITHKINS!'
'Just kidding, Professor – right – the first whistle blows signaling the release of the balls – and yesss – they are off –'
Scorpius took his position among the goalpost and kept an eye for Rose. She was hovering over the rest of the players, twisting and turning for a glimpse of the elusive snitch. The real battle raged below.
'Gryffindor captain Amelia Zach immediately takes the Quaffle – a quick dive to avoid a Bludger – she neatly passes to – oh no – Ravenclaw in possession – Chaser Travis closely avoids the bat of Gryffindor Beater Wilkins, clearly a new one at the job – flying towards the Gryffindor goalposts – ouch, that must hurt – hit on the elbow by a Bludger sent by the other Gryffindor Beater, James Potter – Gryffindor once again in possession – Quaffle taken by Chaser Tara Carlos – she is angling for the Gryffindor goal! – IS SHE DU—ooh – that's quite a bit of clever manipulation – Chaser Andrews grabs the Quaffle – flying like the wind there – ducks a Bludger – oh no – the Ravenclaw Chasers are crowding in – can he get out ? – can he? – he dives – avoids collision – but can't save the Quaffle – Ravenclaw in possession again – Captain Menos strongly gesticulating to one of his Beaters as he flies towards the Gryffindor goalpost – nice dive around Captain Amelia Zach – a clean pass to Chaser Drew – she shoots straight towards the goalpost – and she sc – no, blocked by Keeper Malfoy, new talent on the rise – '
Scorpius blew out a breath. He had almost let her score. He grinned when James gave him a mock salute before swinging the bat and sending a Bludger towards the opposite team. Up there Rose was doing a celebratory loop.
'Nice job, Malfoy,' yelled Captain Zach. The scarlet crowd was chanting 'Malfoy', 'Malfoy' below. The game commenced with more ferocity.
'Chaser Travis gets the Quaffle – Ravenclaw in possession – she passes to Captain Menos – who dives – Bludger almost unseats him – aiming for the goalpost – Keeper Malfoy hovering anxiously – Menos aims to the left – it is a Feint – RAVENCLAW SCORE!'
Ravenclaw cheers deafened out the howls of the Gryffindors.
'Ravenclaws continues to be in possession – both the Seekers are strangely showing no signs of action – never mind – Chaser Drew drops the Quaffle to avoid head-on collision with Gryffindor Chaser Carlos – Carlos in possession – gives a neat pass to Zach, and – Seeker Potter is diving into the breach closely followed by Weasley – did they spot the snitch?! – yet to be confirmed – meanwhile – GRYFFINDOR SCORE!'
Scorpius was having a hard time guarding the post and keeping an eye on Rose. Al was a born flyer. No doubt his captain wanted to keep him a secret. He watched the cousins compete against each other to capture the elusive snitch. They wove among the other players with astonishing speed and dove towards the ground.
'That is indeed the snitch – Seekers Potter and Weasley trying very hard to outrun each other there – as Chaser Drew tries to take this diversion to score – oh no – a brilliant save by the Gryffindor Keeper!'
Suddenly the crowd drew a collective gasp. Scorpius felt his stomach drop. Rose was nose to nose with Albus and diving at a tremendous speed. She did not have the quick reflexes of her cousin and would crash if she did not pull out of the dive soon. Then the miraculous happened. She looped around Al, shoved his hand away and pulled out of the dive, the snitch fluttering between her fingers.
'Would you look at that – Seeker Rose Weasley outsmarts her opponent and cousin, Albus Potter to catch the Snitch! – a hundred and fifty points to Gryffindor – GRYFFINDOR WINS!'
The crowd erupted. The Gryffindor team whooped and clapped before flying towards their Seeker. Scorpius too was clapping when he heard Rose's anguished cry, 'NOOOOO!'
Then all went black.
ooooo
Rose had been biting her nails for the last couple of hours. She and the rest of the team were on tenterhooks. Some sat outside the hospital wing while others paced furiously. Al looked pale and ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.
Everything was going brilliantly, Rose remembered. She had stayed out of the fray. And when she spotted the Snitch hovering just near the Slytherin, she had immediately given chase. She had even made a hard decision (though it was unorthodox) and applied a maneuver to loop around Al. It had succeeded wonderfully. She had managed to catch the Snitch under his nose. She was enjoying the heady thrill of a victory for the first time. But then Malfoy had to go and spoil it all. If he hadn't gotten himself knocked out by a stray Bludger, she swore she would have gone and happily done the deed for him. The idiot.
If only he were conscious, which he was not.
Yet.
Rose continued to bite her nails to tatters.
James peeped into the sickroom. 'They have drawn curtains around him,' he informed them.
'Does it mean it is serious?' asked Al in a tremulous voice. Scorp was his best friend after all.
'I don't know. May be they are changing his clothes.'
Everybody else nodded. Another five minutes passed in complete suspense.
Then Madame Pomfrey emerged, grumbling about beastly sports and idiot boys. The whole team crowded around her at once.
'How is he?'
'Is he awake yet?'
'Is it serious?'
'Will he be alright?'
'Can we see him now?'
'SILENCE!' she ordered. 'Now,' she continued in a more quiet voice, 'He is alright, though he had a cracked skull.'
Someone gasped.
'Not to worry,' continued Madame Pomfrey in her clipped tones, 'I have fixed him up and left him to sleep. He would have a splitting headache when he wakes up, though.'
'Can we go see him for a bit?' Rose asked.
Madame Pomfrey frowned her sternest frown, 'Only six allowed at a time. And No Talking.'
Rose , Albus and James were the last to go in. They took seats beside the bed and gazed at the pale face lying as still as death. The white bandage around his head served a contrast to the whiteness of his visage.
'Will he be ok?' whispered Albus.
James gulped audibly, 'He looks so…death-like.'
'Hush you two!' admonished Rose. She stretched out and took one of Malfoy's hands in her own.
'He will be alright,' she turned to her cousins, 'you will see.'
Scorpius groaned and mumbled something in his sleep. All three crowded around him, eager to hear what he was saying. But he grew quiet once again.
'What are you doing?!' came a voice from the back. Madame Pomfrey was striding angrily towards them. 'Visiting hours ended ten minutes ago. OUT!'
'But Ma'am—'
'No buts. Out, out, OUT!'
oooooo
It was late afternoon the next day when Rose skipped up the stairs and took a left to the hospital wing. Albus had been there in the morning and had informed her that Scorpius was awake but hadn't talked much due to the splitting headache Madame Pomfrey had predicted. She took a peek inside. The screens were absent. Scorpius lay on his back, eyes closed. Careful not to wake him, she tiptoed inside and pulled a stool to sit down. She cleared a space on the bedside table and laid out the day's homework.
She had reached the end of the foot-long Arithmency essay when Scorpius groaned.
'Hello sleepyhead!'
'Carrots?!' he croaked hoarsely.
'Who else? How are you feeling?'
'Like a hundred hippogriffs are tap-dancing inside my skull.'
Rose groaned in sympathy.
'What happened?' he peered at her through bleary eyes.
'You took a Bludger to your head. If Captain Zach and Al had not caught you, you might have broken a few bones as well.'
'Thank the Almighty for small blessings!'
Rose put a final dot to her essay and started blowing on it to dry the ink.
'What's that?' asked Scorpius.
'That is today's homework.'
Scorpius groaned.
'Don't worry. I'll let you copy from mine.'
'You are an angel!'
'And you are an idiot,' she shoved him playfully.
'How so?!'
'For spoiling my first victory!'
'I was doing you a favour!'
'Oh really?!'
'Yep. Didn't want the victory to go to your head!'
She stuck out her tongue.
Scorpius snorted, 'Real mature, Carrots. Real mature.'
They talked till twilight. Once Madame Pomfrey bustled in and ordered her out, she rolled her essay and stood.
'I gotta go.'
'I know.'
'See you tomorrow,' she tucked the cover around him.
'Carrots?'
'Hmm?'
'Thanks for coming. I'm sorry I spoilt your win.'
She shrugged nonchalantly, 'That's ok. Get some sleep.'
'Goodnight Carrots.'
''Night Snowy.'
And she returned to the great Hall, humming her favourite tune all the way.
ooooooo
To be continued...
