2. Detention in Potions

I had to say, I was happy to be in Slytherin. Not for the fact that it was the only place I did belong with my tree of ancestors but for the fact that Slytherin had their common-room in the dungeons. It didn't look weird to find a Slytherin lurking around here and thanks to that I could be near the potions classrooms whenever I and Albus felt like it. We could do almost whatever we wanted in there, as long as we asked for the classroom and bought the ingredients ourselves. It was the only class we were dominating in. It happened that even people asked me for help and that was a huge step from being ignored the three first years. After the confirmation the Ministry of Magic did before this year the rumors was almost gone. It didn't really bring me any friends, I was still the son of Malfoy who had fought on the wrong side during the second Wizard War but the acceptance were now hanging in the air. I had to correct myself pity did hang in the air, not acceptance.

The reason I now walked alone in the dark corridors was because of Albus. He was now sitting in a Charms extra class after getting a P on the test last week. I had, beyond my expectations got an A. Who would have thought that watching someone else do Charms would make it easier to do it yourself? I mean, it wasn't like I was looking for her, Rose Granger-Weasley had put on a show in the great hall and I just happened to be there. I looked down on the cold grey stones that I walked on. I kicked a loss small stone and watched it as it bounced away into the shadows. I wasn't looking for Rose, everything just lead me to her. Destiny had decided that we belonged together or so I hoped. I sighed. I was totally hopeless as Albus said.

"Do it again." I froze. Was it someone down here? I could see a open door from one of the classrooms. A small light flickered from the room. Why would anyone be in the classroom at this hour? I sighed. Of course. Detentions. I frowned at this piece of information. Detentions didn't go this far if it wasn't someone who was really failing a course. I found myself looking inside out of curiosity. I knew that it wasn't any of my business but...
"I have already done it about twenty times!" I knew that voice. I couldn't help to bring myself out into the corridor again. I had to see what was going on. My heart knew that voice. The fire and the sharpness in her tone was her key words. I would have recognized it everywhere at any time.

"You have to succeed to make this potion. It is one of the most common test of potions for the OWLs. I know you have ambition for an O in every subject so if you don't succeed this I can't help but grade you P or lower. I will come back after another half an hour." A door closed in the classroom. P or lower in the OWLs? Rose Granger-Weasley couldn't get such low grades. She was like a copy of her mother and she was one of the brightest witches in out time. I stepped inside and could almost feel Roses anger and disappointment. Did the perfect Rose Granger-Weasley have problem with potions? The subject I was good at? Merlin must have made this happen. My mind carried on out of the boundaries. It was like we was born to be together, filling in each others weaknesses. I could be her night to her day. I could be the earth to her sun. I started to giggle a bit inside. If only Albus was here to see this happening!

"Well, who would thought that.." She glared at me. If looks could kill she would have ripped my throat out. My voice died directly I forgot to finish my sentence. She stood up and for a second I thought she would go to me and hit me. I had startled her and even worse in her point of view, I had found her in her weakest moment. I adored this Rose as much as I adored every other side of her. She bursted out in fury.
"Nothing and I mean, nothing, works! Potions are stupid!" cried she and smashed the potions book down to the floor. Frustration were bubbling out of her. I looked at it for a few second before I decided to pick it up. I brushed some dirt off it and pulled it against my chest. This wasn't going to be such a nice conversation that I wanted it to be. She looked at me.

"Give me my book." She put her hand out as if I would give it to her.
"No." I had never defied her before. I had only showed affection until now. It didn't matter if she wasn't good at potions but treating the book that way? I couldn't accept it and now couldn't even Rose make me back down. Books made it personal and I couldn't see her destory the only thing I knew we both liked.
"Malfoy." It was almost a begging behind the way she said my name.

"I said no." And I meant it.
"Give. Me. The. Book." The desperation was almost amusing but only almost.
"No. In your current state you won't be able to make it. You don't need to put your anger on the book either." Scorpius Malfoy, the book savior. No, I wanted knight to add up in that title. Scorpius Malfoy, the knight book savior. That wasn't even matching. Her brown eyes were throwing fire at me. Her red hair were tangled and in a mess but she was such a warrior. She didn't give up. She didn't care about her looks. That made her so interesting.

"You waste my time!" I put down the book on the table but still held my hand over it so she wasn't able to take it. I moved a bit closer and she looked at me like I was nuts. Well, I was nuts in her. I was used to her out breaks so this wasn't news. The news was however that Rose had never, and I mean never, been so rude in my eyes.

"I never thought that I would say this to you but... you're wrong." It was a first time for everything today but this was my territory and my confident where overwhelming.
"I'm not wrong. I'm never wrong." What a nice way to see yourself in. She didn't let me give a comment on her words and continued. "Why are you even here? Shouldn't you be in the extra class for Charms?" Yes, why was I still standing there? Like, wasn't that obvious?

"I'm your only chance to get an O in potions and I might add that I did pretty good in Charms. Can't be Prince Charming without the Charm, can I?" She ignored my last comment and I didn't blame her for it but it was a pretty good line. She were totally surprised by one small detail I said. An O.
"What... are you good at potions?" For the first time could I say that it was an understatement.
"I'm not only good at potions. I'm good at positions too." My cheesy pick up lines where a serious problem of mine. She didn't listen to the last thing I said and thank Merlin she didn't.

"Thank you, Scorpius." It looked almost as if she wanted to hug me but as before almost wasn't a hug. Almost wasn't even a movement. Almost was like a thought but died right away. She looked away and her freckles started to shine a bit red. Yes, I caught her unguard that was for sure and becuase of that I was going to something so uncharactaristic, something my father would have done.
"I'm not saying I will help you for free." I was a Slytherin. I had to use this prejudice against her or else I could regret it forever. She hissed in a low tone and I couldn't really understand what she said. Slytherins was my lucky guess. She nodded slowly not even thinking about how far I could use this blackmail.

"Go on a date with me."