Disclaimer - I do not own Harry Potter.
Note - Sorry this has been taking me so long lately to get new chapters out to you guys. But thankfully summer is on its way. I know this is really short, but as always, I hope you enjoy it.
Rebel Malfoy
Chapter Fifteen: The Confusion of Girls
Scorpius sighed as he sat in the library. It felt like the only quiet place left in the castle, but he still couldn't get rid of the tense air that seemed to float about. It had been months since Harry Potter had come to Hogwarts to speak to the third years, and since the Slytherins had blown up in class. And a tense air seemed to hang above the third years. Especially between Scorpius and Albus Potter. It was more tense than usual.
Also, the Quidditch Cup would soon be decided, as soon as Gryffindor had their next match. Well, actually it was already decided. Slytherin was so ahead in the points total, that no one would catch up. Scorpius smirked. And it was all thanks to Lily Luna.
They'd had an undefeated season thanks to her help. Having a winning Seeker really did boost all of their energy and hopes. They'd crushed Ravenclaw, and had taken out both of Hufflepuff's Keeper and Seeker. But that game had been a great one, and not because of their win. Lily. She'd taken a Bludger to the shoulder, but hadn't stopped her chase of the Snitch. She was tough. At the same time, when the same Bludger knocked out the Hufflepuff Seeker, she was fast to help the unconscious girl to the ground. She was . . . sweet as well.
Now Scorpius scowled as he began to gather his things. Gryffindors were being poor sports, and tensions between the Houses had risen even more. Fights were constantly breaking out between them. And Scorpius was always irritated when they would attack Lily on what she did for the Hufflepuff Seeker. How they tried to say she had a hidden motive, and was too scared to go and see her. Being a Malfoy, who the media said always had a hidden motive, he knew how annoying . . . and hurtful that could feel.
"Hi, Scorpius." Scorpius turned his head as he had just stepped out of the library. Layla Reeser was coming towards him, a small smile on her face.
Scorpius gave a nod. "Hey, Layla. How's it going?" he asked as he began to walk.
"Good. I can't wait to see Gryffindor lose their match," Layla said brightly.
Scorpius raised a brow. "Really? I didn't think you paid much attention to Quidditch."
"I don't, but I do pay attention when Gryffindor is losing," Layla laughed.
Just as Scorpius was about to comment, he was stopped by another, louder voice. "You are such a wuss, Huey!" Scorpius could hear Lily's mocking voice around the corner, so without dely, he hurried to the other hall to see what was going on.
Lily and a few other of the first years were glaring at a few first year Gryffindor boys. One of them was Lily's cousin, Hugo.
Weasley glared at her. "I'm a Gryffindor! We're brave, not like you would know, snake!"
"I didn't know bravery meant getting walked all over!" Lily hissed. "I'd rather not be a part of that!"
"Hold up!" Scorpius stopped the argument, which he was sure wasn't far from hexes. He quickly stepped beside them, and pushed Lily back a bit. "Let's calm down and get out of here before a prefect comes."
"Well isn't Lily lucky that her boyfriend saved her," Weasley mocked.
Scorpius felt his face flare up a little as he looked at Lily, one of his better friends, who despite a bit of pink on her own cheeks, was glaring at her cousin.
"What would know about romance, weasel?" Layla seethed. "Don't try to sound tough, little boy."
Scorpius cleared his throat. "Let's get out of here," he mumbled. And he ignored the last few taunts thrown as the others began to follow him. He couldn't help but glance at Lily again. Her boyfriend? He'd never heard any of the Weasleys use that to mock her. And it made him feel . . . weird. Lily was one of his friends. Not that she wasn't pretty, but . . . she was a friend. Scorpius scowled. Besides, he really didn't want a girlfriend. He had enough troubles with puberty, he really didn't need to throw a girl into the mix.
Scorpius thought his heart would explode from the excitement and adrenaline running through his body. And he knew he wasn't the only one. The whole Slytherin Quidditch team, no, the whole House, felt that way! They'd won the Quidditch Cup! The announcement had been made, the trophy passed around, and it was now proudly in Professor Slughorn's hands. Lily had been hoisted onto Aaron's shoulders, but now she was chatting excitedly with her friends, as all of the Slytherin attending the game had run down to the grass at this point.
"We're partying tonight!" Adrian said excitedly.
"That cup is staying with Slytherin!" Aaron yelled with determination. He looked at the other guys on the team. "So don't screw it up once I'm gone!"
But the partying and the excitement soon died in Slytherin House, as exams didn't take long to sneak up on all of them. O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s jumped at the older students, and normal exams attacked the other students. The week before exams was filled with studying and revising.
"We've essentially been preparing you for O.W.L.s since your first year. But this next year is going to be even tougher preparation," Professor Bell had told the third years.
Scorpius felt like the only people he saw were those in the library. Lana was constantly dragging the boys to the library, and forcing them to study over their class material.
Scorpius didn't think the actual exams were too difficult. They just made the week drag on endlessly. It made him dread for when he'd have to take O.W.L. exams. That was too many days of exams and stress!
"You ever feel like school is really just a Dementor that sucks out not only your happiness, but your soul as well?" Mitch questioned as they left their Charms exam.
"That's just you," Lana said with a roll of her eyes. "Everyone else realizes that they need school to get a good job when they grow up."
"Maybe I don't need one," Mitch mocked. "Maybe I'll just take my guitar and go town to town, making enough money get by, day-by-day."
"Why do I talk to you?" Lana quipped.
Scorpius looked at Lars. "Hey, Lars, you've been quiet. How did you do?"
Lars blinked before looking at them. "Oh, sorry. I was just thinking about how that test made my mind implode."
"I'm sitting with Aaron, so I'll see you guys later," Lars told the others as they walked toward the train station.
Scorpius nodded, but then stopped as he caught sight of Lily, walking with Lola and Jace. But despite the smile on her face, Scorpius could see the conflict in her eyes. The little tinge of sadness hidden in the depths of her eyes.
"Hey, let's go sit with Lily Luna and the others," Scorpius suggested as he hurried a little quicker through the crowd.
"Ok, cool," Mitch agreed easily.
"Why not sit with the others in our year? Layla said she'd save a few seats for us," Lana mentioned.
Scorpius kept moving though, as Lily disappeared from his sight after stepping onto the train. "I need to talk to Lily about something though. Something important," he replied, thinking of his invitation for her to come over.
"Besides, we've been around Layla for a few years now. Let's spend a little time with Slytherin's personal Potter," Mitch joked with a grin.
It wasn't hard to find the three first years on the train. And Scorpius smirked as they stepped into the compartment. "We're invading your compartment. Hope you don't mind," he teasing, sending a teasing wink to Lily.
Lily rolled her eyes. "Sure. Pull up a seat. Where's Lars?"
"Sitting Aaron and the cool kids," Lana mocked with a scoff. She sat down, and immediately pulled out a book.
Scorpius still smirked as he sat down. "So, year one for you guys is done."
Lola sighed as she leaned her head against the glass of the window. "I can't believe the year's already over."
"It kinds sucks," Mitch agreed. "It means that we're one year closer to O.W.L.s, and Rose Weasely loves to point that out." All three third years rolled their eyes.
Lily laughed lightly. "Just wait until you get to your fifth year. I doubt she'll ever shut up."
Scorpius laugh as well, but he changed the topic to one that made him even more excited. "So, when can you come over, Lily Lu?"
She rolled her eyes a little, but she smiled. "I don't know. Whenever I guess."
Mitch looked at him. "She's going to your house?" He looked just as eager at the news.
Lana grinned as well. "Trying to annoy your grandfather again?"
Scorpius grinned at her. "Hey, it would bug her brothers too. Kill two birds with one stone."
"What if your parents don't let you?" Jace mocked with a smile.
Lily just shrugged. "Then I'll just lie and say I'm going over to Teddy's or something. Anything to get out of the house."
Lana suddenly closed her book. "We should all get together sometime this summer. Like, we could meet up in Diagon Alley or something."
"How about next week on Tuesday?" Mitch mentioned. "My parents are taking my siblings to see a crappy Quidditch game. They oddly want to see the Chudley Cannons lose another match. I'm skipping out."
Lana gave a nod. "That sounds fine for me. Should I tell Lars?"
Scorpius chuckled. "Yeah, bring him too. He'll be pissy if he knows we didn't invite him."
"I'll be there," Jace agreed.
Lily shrugged. "My parents won't care."
Mitch looked to Lola. "Lola?"
After a short moment, Lola nodded. "Yeah, I'll be able to get out. I just hope my parents don't make me take one of my siblings." Her face twisted into one of annoyance at the thought.
Mitch waved it off. "We can pawn them off at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, if you do."
"Yeah, it's easy to spend hours in there," Jace said with a bit of a smile.
Lily sighed. "I've spent more time there than you could imagine," she mumbled.
When they finally reached the station, they all began to separate to their families, but Scorpius waited until Lily had found her family before leaving her. And when they did find the large family, he noticed Lily's uncertain expression. But he tried to give her an optimistic look as she and Lana hugged.
"Well, good luck, Lil," Lana told her.
Lily sighed. "Thanks. I might need a lot of luck."
Scorpius laughed. "Well, you've got mine," he promised. He pulled her into a hug, lifting her off the ground. Lily laughed as well, and Scorpius smiled, happy that she was at least laughing, even if she was kicking his legs now.
He set her down, and Lily was honestly smiling, making him feel even better. "And I get the feeling that you just made the ride home much more relaxed," she mocked, glancing at the sight of her family.
Scorpius laughed again. "No problem, Lily Luna. I'll beat 'em next time I see them," he teased, not wanting her to worry about it.
Lily just shook her head as she grabbed her things. "I'll see you two on Tuesday. And I'll find out when I can go to your house," she told Scorpius.
He and Lana gave their goodbyes, and once she'd walked away, Lana gave him a light elbow in his side. "Is there any reason you seem so protective of her?"
Scorpius just shrugged as they began to walk. "I just don't want her to have to deal with it alone. I mean . . . we did just let her walk toward the lions' den with not a single Slytherin to help her though it."
"She made it through Christmas, didn't she?" Lana pointed out.
"Yeah, but she was a bit pouty coming back. The same conflicted emotions come back every time she has even a run-in with one of her brothers or cousins. And she's one of us. I don't want her to be unhappy," Scorpius said casually.
Lana grinned. "Really? Because I think that you think she's cute," she mocked.
Scoprius's face felt like it was on fire as he looked at his sister with wide eyes. "What?"
Lana just shrugged. "You heard me."
"I . . . I do not that think that!" Scorpius spluttered. "I don't think that about any girl! She's just . . . kind of like me."
Lana looked at him curiously. "Like you?"
Scorpius sighed. "We both constantly have to deal with expectations, and at least someone in our family not approving of who we are. I just . . . get her."
Lana just gave a small roll of her eyes. "So, you've found someone that you connect with . . . that's good. You need someone like that."
Scorpius nodded, his face still hot. "I don't think she's cute," he said firmly.
Lana just grinned. "If you say so, brother of mine."
"So, Scorpius, how was the rest of your year?" Astoria inquired as she pulled her son to sit down on the couch. "And I wouldn't have to ask every time if you wrote more often," she said after seeing his exasperated look.
Scorpius rolled his eyes discreetly. "It went well, Mum. Actually," he smiled at both his parents, "I was wondering if you wouldn't mind having a friend of mine stay over."
Astoria smiled. "Well of course not, dear. Who?"
"Lily Potter," Scorpius admitted.
Astoria's smile brightened. "Well that's perfect! I've been so eager to meet her ever since you told us about her! When is she coming?"
Scorpius smirked at his mother's enthusiasm. "I don't know yet. She still has to clear it with her parents, but she's sure they'll be fine with it. She said she'd write when she knew."
"Son," Draco addressed suddenly, "I was wondering if you and I could have a talk?"
Scorpius looked at his father curiously. "Um . . . sure?"
Astoria quickly stood from her seat. "I'll go see how Pitch is doing with dinner. I still want to hear about the rest of you year!"
Draco waited his wife had left the room before he looked to his son. "So, I avoided doing this over break, but I probably shouldn't have. I think we need to have a talk now that . . . you're getting older."
Scorpius felt his face flush heavily. "Do we really?"
Draco chuckled. "Yes, I think we do." He paused, but then sighed. "Son, I'm old, not ignorant. When my teenage son hides in his room and has the house elf do his laundry separately, I've got a good idea why."
Scorpius's face burned even harsher. "Um . . ., look, Dad . . ."
Draco cut him off. "It's not something you need to hide or be embarrassed about. It happens, son. I'm sure you've noticed that it stops."
Scorpius sighed quietly. That was true. He'd stopped waking up to wet sheets and pajama pants. But he still woke up with an . . . an uncomfortable problem each morning.
Draco sighed too. "Look, obviously, you're going to start going through a few changes. I mean, I've heard the occasional crack in your voice too."
Scorpius immediately cleared his throat. "Well, that's gotten a little better now," he admitted.
"And your voice is already a little deeper than it was over Christmas," Draco commented. "I'm sure you've noticed more body hair, all these things."
Scorpius never thought his face was cool. "Yes," he mumbled.
Draco smirked a little now. "Noticed girls?"
Scorpius looked at the floor. "Not really," he muttered. "Just a little."
"Look, son, you're fourteen. You're going to start noticing girls. You'll begin dating, and . . . all of that," Draco trailed off into a mumble.
Scorpius ran a hand through his hair. "Dad, I know all about dating and . . . safe . . . stuff." Scorpius closed his eyes in embarrassment. Why was it that his dad talking to him wasn't this awkward when he was younger?
Draco let out small breath. "Good. Good. Well, then . . . just be smart, son. And if you need to talk about anything, you can come to me."
Scorpius gave a nod. "Of course, Father. . . . May I got upstairs now?" And when his father nodded, Scorpius practically ran.
Scorpius had just finished a jog around the entirety of the manor's backyard when Pitch stopped him as he was making his way upstairs.
"Young master, you received a letter this morning," Pitch told him, holding out an envelope.
Scorpius took it, and then smiled at the name. Lily Luna Potter. "Thank you, Pitch," he said as he began up the stairs again, ready to shower and get rid of the sweat, before finding out what Lily Luna had to say.
"Dear Scorpius,
I talked to my parents last night, and they're ok with my staying over. I was thinking we could just do it Tuesday? We could hang out with the others, and before going back to your place, we could grab my stuff back at home.
Also, you should have seen how upset my brothers were when I talked about coming to your place. It was the best part of my night! I also get to go to Teddy's for a few days, so double bonus. Anyways, let me know if Tuesday works or not.
Sincerely,
Lily Luna"
Scorpius sighed as he read the letter, freshly showered and energized. He loved the idea of bringing her over on Tuesday. It was close, but long enough for Scorpius to get under Lucius's skin. And of course, it was convenient.
"Scorpius!" His mother appeared in the doorway so suddenly that it made him jump. "Would you mind coming to Diagon Alley with me for an hour or so? I need to pick up a few things, and I would for you to come with?"
Scorpius sighed as he set down the letter. "You want me to come with you pick out fabrics?" he guessed.
Astoria smiled. "Basically, yes. But I'd like for us to spend a little bit of time together this summer. Especially since my little boy is getting so much older."
Scorpius stopped himself from rolling his eyes. But he got up nonetheless. "Ok, Mother. Just let me change into something more appropriate for a day out with my mother, and not lounge clothes," he joked.
