The Art of Denial

by todreamistobelieve

Life has always been simple. But now it's seventh year, and everything's gone mad. The maddest thing of all is that I am now inexplicably friends with Scorpius Malfoy. My mad mates think he's secretly fancied me for ages and I've been in serious denial, but no. There's a reason I call them mad. Rose x Scorpius.

3. Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

AN: Please read and review! I love getting reviews, and I especially love constructive criticism!

Chapter Three: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

Charms

September 15th

Well, this has certainly been quite an eventful couple of days...

A Brief Overview of the Sumners-McLaggen-McLaughlin Scandal:

(with additional commentary by Emma Davis and Elizabeth Hale) and Scorpius Malfoy

Scorpius, you can't just grab my diary away from me and interject yourself into my conversation-Rose

Sure I can-Scorpius

You are an arse, Scorpius Malfoy-Rose

I thought I was a prat-Scorpius

You're both-Rose

1. On the morning of September 9th, I went down for breakfast and happened to see Grace McLaughlin crying, Nick McLaggen screaming at Grace, and Sumners looking unbelievably smug. Even smugger than usual, which I didn't know was possible. I swear, if one could die from over-smugness, Sumners would've dropped dead then and there.

You forgot to mention that Nick looked quite distraught and he was begging Grace to take him back. You need to tell it how it happened!-Liz

Grace makes this funny wheezing noise when she cries, like she's, I don't know, a heavy chain smoker. Hey, maybe that's what she does when she skives off patrols. She's chain smoking with her gang of fellow chain smokers in that secret passageway. And, I don't see what you see in Nick, Rose. He's got no dignity, none at all. He was literally on his knees and kissing Grace's feet. I like a man with some more self-worth, y'know? Sumners looked like she had been thoroughly fucked, so it wasn't terribly difficult to guess what had happened...-Emma

Well, like Emilia said, it wasn't terribly difficult to guess what had happened. Sophie's liked Nick for ages. I don't think Hogwarts has enough chain smokers to really call them a gang.-Scorpius

No, Sumners has liked YOU for ages!-Rose

I thought we had established that Grace probably skives off patrol to snog Nick in a broom closet somewhere. And, I really find Charms to be more important right now so…-Liz

We're just mates! A guy and a girl can't be just friends?-Scorpius

Not you and her! You used to date her! And haven't you ever seen the movies? When Harry Met Sally is a classic-Rose

We're getting a little off topic here...and I'm trying to pay attention-Liz

And let's face it, this scandal is far more interesting than Scorpius' love life and Charms combined. Tell me, Rose, why so interested in Scorp's love life?-Emma

No I have not seen that very cheesy sounding movie-Scorpius

I will show it to you one day. And no Emma, I'm not. I'm really not-Rose

Really-Emma

2. Nick McLaggen was begging Grace to take him back, while Sumners was laughing her arse off. So it's safe to say that Nick cheated on Grace with Sumners.

And you still want to marry this bloke and have his children? He's hot but not that hot.-Emma

You've really got abhorrent taste in boyfriends, Cleopatra-Scorpius

Shut up! Sumners set this up! It was SOPHIE SUMNERS' fault.-Rose

No comment…-Liz

3. Grace then tried to hex Sumners-missed by about a mile, poor girl. When she missed Sumners, she then went for Nick, and missed again. Hit some random first year though, so props for that.

Still wondering how that girl got through any practical examination with that horrid aim.-Emma

She was crying and shaking! She just found out that her boyfriend had cheated on her!-Liz

I still don't think that justifies how bloody terrible that girl's aim is-Scorpius

Well that's not very sensitive-Rose

I always get confused. Do birds like sensitive blokes or not?-Scorpius

It depends-Rose

Hate sensitive blokes. Always droning on about their feelings while I'm trying to get in their trousers-Emma

I think a little sensitivity is nice!-Liz

Do you birds get off on confusing blokes?-Scorpius

4. Sumners decided to retaliate, hexed Grace (her aim, unfortunately is much better than Grace's), and started taunting her. Said something about how much she pleasured Nick, etc. etc.

I think she said something about watching McLaggen writhe under her and moan in pleasure-Emma

Yeah, Sophie can be quite vulgar sometimes…-Scorpius

Thanks, Em. I barely forgot the first time, and you just had to bring it up again-Liz

Then, why are you friends with her? Y'know, since she's a vulgar other woman-Rose

She's one of my oldest friends! And have you heard the rubbish that's come out of James' mouth?-Scorpius

So? And yes, but he's family. I'm sort of supposed to like him. Although I don't like Molly much, even though she's family-Rose

Let's not obsess over Sumners, alright?-Emma

5. Nick stepped in and protected Grace, and got hit by one of Sumners' hexes. He was rather heroic. Very Gryffindor-ish.

I don't think he was so much as protecting Grace, as he was trying to duck and protect himself. He wasn't even trying to shield Grace!-Emma

What made that bloke think that ducking was going to be protection from being hexed? He's clearly not that bright-Scorpius

I'm going to have to agree with those two-Liz

You're all mad. He's perfect-Rose

6. Grace started yelling at Sumners-called her 'a boyfriend stealer', I believe. Then called Nick 'a liar'.

Both titles well deserved, although I, myself, would've called Sumners something like 'a skanky boyfriend stealing bint' and I would've included 'dickface' and 'arsehole' and 'wanker' for Nick.-Emma

7. Sumners started yelling back at Grace-called her 'a stuck up prudish goody two shoes' and some other not very flattering things.

Well, erm, from what I witnessed when I accidentally burst in on them in a broom closet, that's not entirely true-Emma

You two are being very quiet-Rose

Well, we're not going to be talking in the middle of the lesson, are we?-Scorpius

You know what I meant! If there was such thing as terminal literalism, you'd be long dead-Rose

8. McGonagall gave all three detention-together. Merlin, that woman has a sick mind. And that is the end of my brief overview. Does anyone have anything to add?

You're far too kind to Nick. He might be extremely fit, but he's a first class areshole and a bit dim-Emma

You're a real charmer, Emilia-Rose

I really don't think this whole thing was Sophie's fault-Scorpius

I wonder if Flitwick has noticed how uninteresting his lesson is-Liz

Bugger off about Nick, alright? Elizabeth Hale called a lesson 'uninteresting'? Merlin, you're coming over to the dark side, too.-Rose

Joint Common Room

September 19th

"So Cleopatra, have you applied for a bartending job at the Hog's Head?" he asked. At first, I had no idea what he was going on about, but then, I remembered-if I don't pass Transfiguration, I will end up a homeless druggie bartender, and I must have mentioned that to Scorpius during my horribly embarrassing crying session in the corridors. Does he listen to and memorize every single little word I say?

Merlin, I can barely remember Hugo's birthday and he's memorizing my loony rambles.

He should probably stop, though.

Might go as loony as I am.

That would be scary.

Both Head Boy and Head Girl, complete loons.

I'm pretty sure the school would fall to pieces.

Okay maybe that's a tad bit overdramatic.

"Nope, looks like Scary Mary's job is still safe," I said coolly, but really inside, I was thrilled. I don't have to become a homeless, druggie bartender! Aberforth hired Scary Mary a few years ago-actually I'm not even really sure her name is Mary. Probably isn't.

He split into an absolutely cracking grin. Like grinning from ear to ear. He looked like he had gotten hit with a rather spectacular cheering charm or had quite possibly drunken a vat of the Elixir to Induce Euphoria.

He actually sort of resembles Emma. The way she looks when she thinks that Scorpius and I are going to get together, or when she's won a silly bet.

"My tutoring helped?"

As much as I would like to say that I did this on my own, yeah his tutoring helped. A lot.

I nodded. "Thank you so much! I wouldn't have made it on the streets anyway…"

I like to ruin perfectly nice moments by adding loony comments on afterwards.

It's a specialty of mine.

Arithmancy

September 20th

You'll never believe what I heard-Emma

What?-Rose

Well, I was talking to that really nosey Hufflepuff sixth year, and apparently she's heard that Nick been telling Grace that Sumners tricked him into cheating on her-Emma

How is that news? I thought that was common information-Rose

That's not the news! And it's not true anyway-Sumners is manipulative, but not that manipulative. Plus when has Sumners ever shown any interest in McLaggen?-Emma

So what is the news?-Rose

Patience, grasshopper. That same girl, what's her name-Jenny?-, overheard McLaggen saying that he's thought Sumners was hot for ages and was waiting to shag her, and also overhead Sumners saying that McLaggen came onto her first-Emma

How the bloody hell did Jess Carter manage to hear that? And yeah, I know that you hate when I defend Nick, but I really do think she's lying-Rose

You're positively hopeless, my dear. Alright, say that Sumners did manipulate him, she's not that good a manipulator. He willingly cheated on Grace-Emma

I don't want to discuss this anymore. I really don't. So, have you and Lily bet on the Quidditch match?-Rose

Why, because you know I'm right? And no, seeing as, I'm on the team, and Lily has her money on us winning also. So we joined forces, and we're betting with Al and Scorpius-Emma

Scorpius I can understand, but Al? Why the hell would he put his money on Ravenclaw?! Traitor!-Rose

You know as well as I do that Lily Luna Potter is a master persuader-Emma

How much money do you and Lily have on this match?-Rose

Together? Twenty galleons-Emma

Do you even have twenty galleons?-Rose

No, but are we going to lose? No, we are not. By the way-how are things going with Scorpius?-Emma

Good-Rose

That's it? Give a girl a little something here!-Emma

I don't know what you want me to say. He's been tutoring me. He's a good tutor-Rose

I bet that's not all he's good at ;) –Emma

I thought you thought of Scorpius like your, I don't know, brother-Rose

I do-Emma

Okaaay then. Why so interested in Scorpius and me?-Rose

I can't be interested in my best mate and my almost brother? Is that a crime?-Emma

Well of course not. Although it is weird that you think that there could be a Scorpius and me-Rose

Are you saying that there couldn't?-Emma

Are you saying that there could?-Rose

Joint Common Room

September 20th

In case you're wondering about our weirdly cut off conversation, Professor Vector briefly confiscated my diary. Unlike Professor Brown, she did not feel the need to humiliate me, so she did not read the contents out loud.

I love when something goes right in my life for once.

And seriously, what drug is Emma on? Why does she think that there could be a Scorpius and me? Because, that would be so weird. Incredibly weird, really.

The weirdest thing ever.

To Do:

1. Defense Essay (half done)

2. Finalize patrol schedule with Scorpius

3. Write to Dom (I think she's in Fiji now? Maybe? And I haven't written her in months)

4. Ancient Runes assignment (hasn't even been touched)

5. Find out what drug Emma is on

Note to Self: Go to the library. What drugs make people hallucinate truly ludicrous things about their best mate and almost brother?

Quite a few of my notes to self, involve going to the library.

Interesting.

Gryffindor 7th Year Girls Dormitory

September 22nd

I've been having a lot of funny dreams lately. Scorpius was in this one-again. Why does he keep infiltrating my dreams?! In my dream, I was playing Quidditch, it was Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw, but weirdly enough, Scorpius was the Keeper for Ravenclaw. He's not even in Ravenclaw? Or a Keeper, for that matter. In my dream, I was playing Beater, which is funny, because again, I don't happen to be a Beater. I hit Scorpius with a bludger, he fell dramatically, and then it started raining Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. I abandoned the goalposts to go and save him, but by the time I caught him, he had turned into a centaur. Gryffindor lost, 420 to 10.

Why do all of my dreams involved Scorpius turning to something weird?! And why do they all involve Scorpius for that matter?!

Gryffindor Common Room

September 22nd

We ended up winning the Quidditch game unlike in that horribly strange dream of mine, and of course, someone got the Firewhiskey out and we threw a party. All very expected things. The only unexpected thing was-Scorpius Malfoy. He has been popping up everywhere in my life nonstop this year. Apparently, Emma dragged him here, for some reason. I don't bloody know. There's something I've learned slowly-don't try to understand Emma's motivations. Just don't. Just let her do her thing, and everything will be good. I'm pretty sure I got some (not all) of my craziness just from trying to understand Emma.

Someone decided to start up a game of 'I Never'. See, you'd think as Head Girl, I'd be putting a stop to this nonsense, but no. I'm obviously not a very good Head Girl. And I rather like playing 'I Never' because I never get very drunk. I live a relatively calm existence-the only relatively crazy things I do, like camping out in the Forbbiden Forest with Emma and Liz, diving to the bottom of the Great Lake with Emma and Liz and almost getting skewered by a merperson's trident, are too obscure to ever be brought up. Emma is usually the one that comes up with the crazier ideas, although I've had some doozies too. There was that one time I borrowed the invisibility cloak, and Emma, Liz, and I stalked Nick and Grace on their date in Hogsmeade. The invisibility cloak really only fits two of us comfortably, so we took turns being the one person that had to constantly cast disillusionment charms on ourselves and creep behind corners. Emma and Liz were underneath the cloak for that hour, while I was casting and recasting disillusionment charms. I felt the charm wear off, when Nick and Grace just happened to turn around. Karma, I'm telling you. Karma. In order to avoid being seen as a crazy stalker, and with no time to cast another charm on myself, I dove into a snowbank, and nearly froze my face off while I waited for them to walk away. But, I digress.

"I've never fantasized about anyone in this group," Emma said, after thinking for quite a while, obviously trying her best to humiliate as many people as possible. Love that girl. Quite a few people in the group grumbled as their drank-even Scorpius took a drink, as Emma stared him down. Okaaay. Strange.

This little group was comprised of Emma, Liz, Lucy, Lily, Katie, Elena, Meadows, Al, Scorpius, Louis, Nick, this bloke that I'm pretty sure is named Matt, this really fit bloke Jack that's constantly brooding, Adam Blair (the older brother of one of Lily's friends), and Ben Davidson. Lucy, Al, Scorpius, Louis, bloke-possibly-named-Matt, and Ben weren't even in Gryffindor, but no one really cared.

While very creepy to imagine Scorpius fantasizing about anyone-I was still dying of curiosity. Who could it be? Sumners, his on-again off-again girlfriend that's absolutely obsessed with him and hates me, wasn't playing with us. No way was it Emma-or if it was that'd be eternally creepy. I mean, they've known each other since they were in diapers. She's like his little sister. Crossing Emma off the list. He's never liked Liz much. Lucy is three years younger, so unless Scorpius fancies being a cradle-robber…and same with Lily, who's two years younger. Like I've said, I can't imagine Scorpius fancying Katie that way, and Elena is so hostile that I think she scares Scorpius. Meadows, then? But Meadows is his on-again off-again girlfriend's best mate…yeah I don't know. I should stop. Why do I care so much again?

Still in the Gryffindor Common Room

September 22nd

'I Never' broke up pretty quickly, and the others started a game of beer pong. Except they used firewhiskey. Real mature.

It honestly scares the crap out of me that most of the people around here are going to be working in the Ministry or Healing or whatever by this time in a year.

We're all going to die.

I just know it.

Emma usually trounces anyone she plays with, but Scorpius was proving to be a surprisingly able opponent.

"In your face, Malfoy!" Emma shouted as she lobbed the ball into the last cup. It seems that she only pulls out the last name card when she's playing against him in beer pong. She's gets pretty competitive when it comes to beer pong.

Scorpius groaned and downed the last cup of firewhiskey, wincing slightly.

"Davis, who are you going to challenge next?" Adam asked.

"I, actually, am going to step out-," Emma began.

Don't think I've ever heard Emma say that before. She lives for crushing people at beer pong.

"I'm going to let my defeated friend, Scorpius, here, challenge someone," she smirked.

"I challenge Cleopatra to a game of beer pong," Scorpius smirked.

Scorpius Malfoy has a death wish. He must. Did I look like I wanted to engage in a silly drinking game? Did I?

I handed my drink to Liz, and stepped up to the table where the beer pong was set up.

"You're going down, Malfoy," I insisted.

"Oh really?" he asked, laughing.

Yeah, he sort of had the right to laugh. I mean, he put up a fair fight against Emma, who never loses beer pong. Drunk Rose does like talking big.

"Let's shut up and play," I said.

Still still in the Gryffindor Common Room

September 22nd

Yeah, I was thoroughly trounced. Crushed. Defeated. Vanquished. Slaughtered. Demolished.

Scorpius bleeding Malfoy is like the god of beer pong. He lobs the balls into the cups across the table, barely even aiming!

"Who's going down now?" Scorpius called out, as I downed another cup of firewhiskey, wincing at the sting.

I stuck my tongue out at him.

Maturity at its finest.

I managed to finally sink a ball in his cup. Finally.

Although I noticed something funny-he didn't even really attempt to block my ball from entering his cup.

What, was he letting me win?

He let me sink a few more shots, and even, possibly purposely missing the shot into my cup that would win him the game.

He sunk the next shot, so I had to take the drink. God, I was feeling awfully woozy.

Scorpius declined to play another game, and instead approached me.

"Good game, Cleopatra."

I laughed, and felt a little unsteady, latching onto his arm.

He flinched a little, but let me.

"No. I was thoroughly crushed," I said quite honestly, but well, I was.

"You made a few shots," he reminded me. Huh. He was actually trying to make me feel better about my obvious lack of beer pong skills.

"Only because you let me," I countered.

He raised his eyebrows, probably surprised that I noticed.

"Wanted you to leave with some dignity, Cleopatra," he smirked. "I mean, I'm pretty much the King of this game, so I didn't want you to feel bad that you were losing so badly."

"Thank you? I think?" I said uncertainly. "Why the hell did you even challenge me anyway?"

"You were looking bored. Sober."

"So, you wanted to get me wasted," I summarized.

"No! Uh…yes," he mumbled.

We both started laughing.

"Well, you did a great job. I can barely see straight," I pointed out. "The room is practically spinning!"

He laughed even harder.

"You are such a lightweight, Cleopatra."

I took a step and almost fell on my face. He reached out an arm to steady me. My arm sort of tingled where he touched it. Weird.

"And you think you can be a druggie bartender," he said, shaking his head in mock disappointment.

"Why do you listen to my loony comments anyway?"

"They're not loony!" One thing about Scorpius Malfoy is that he tries. He really does. That's very commendable.

I've always admired triers.

I snorted, because that's such a lie.

"Okay fine. They're just a little loony. I like your comments," he shrugged.

He likes my crazy comments about failing Transfiguration causing me to be a homeless druggie bartender?

Now I really am starting to think that there's something fundamentally wrong with that poor bloke.

Being mates with me has obviously addled his brains.

Does the St. Mungo's psychiatric ward (the polite name for nuthouse) have an extra bed?

Still still still in the Gryffindor Common Room
September 22nd

Eventually the drinking games died down-although I think that was partly because everyone was too sloshed to function properly. Except me, of course. I was a tad bit tipsy, but not actually plastered.

Hugo thinks that I don't see him hiding in the corner with his camera. Last time we had a Quidditch party, I got right plastered, and Hugo captured me stumbling around drunk and puking on someone's shoes for my parents to see. Needless to say, they were not pleased.

Emma ran off with some bloke a while ago-Ethan Finnegan, maybe? I don't even know where Liz went, but I know that Liz is being completely safe. Drunk!Liz is still Logical!Liz.

So you might ask, Rose, why are you still hanging around the party if your best mates are gone, and you don't want to get drunk?

Well, first-Al. Al is extremely prone to doing stupid things when drunk. I was there the first time Al got drunk at a fourth year Quidditch victory party. He ended up taking off his shirt and dancing on top of a table, but the real fun didn't come until Al asked Maggie McCullers out. Maggie McCullers was a seventh year, completely gorgeous, and had a boyfriend at the time. The beater on the Ravenclaw Quidditch Team, who had been scouted by Puddlemere United. Someone who could take the scrawny fourth year Al on easily, half trying. Lily is also still around. Lily doesn't fool me-I know she's had a drink or two. So's Lucy. So I've got a cousinly duty to stick around and make sure they don't make complete fools of themselves.

The second reason-Scorpius. Yes, I know what you're thinking. Scorpius is your mate and he doesn't need a babysitter. But I see him chatting up his "mate" Sumners, and I need to make sure everything is okay.

This is normal mate behavior, right?

Right?

Still still still still in the Gryffindor Common Room

September 22nd

"You played pretty brilliantly today, Weasley," Nick said, walking over to me. I caught a glimpse of Grace looking absolutely furious.

See? He's so sweet! He compliments people! I mean, I wish we were on first name terms, but he's still so sweet!

"Thanks. You, er, weren't so bad yourself," I said. I must be the most awkward flirt ever. I caught Scorpius looking at us. He was a strange mix of angry and upset. At what? He seemed perfectly fine a few minutes ago.

He winked at me and smiled widely.

"Oh, my mate, Evan's other there, I have to go. Have a good night," he said as he kissed me on the cheek. He kissed me! I mean, it was only on the cheek, but still. He kissed me!

Best day ever.

Still still still still still in the Gryffindor Common Room

September 22nd

It was a good thing that I stayed and, er, observed Scorpius. Because he and Sumners look awfully cozy. It's truly vomit inducing.

I seriously had to keep myself from vomiting up the contents of my stomach. Although that might've been caused by the alcohol, but not Scorpius and Sumners.

They're both slurring words, and Sumners is giggling hysterically.

Could she be any more obvious?

Now, I couldn't exactly hear what Scorpius was saying, but there was no way it was that funny.

She fancies Scorpius, even after they broke up. The whole bloody school knows it! The whole Nick McLaggen drama was just to get him jealous, I know it.

Scorpius insists that they're just mates blah blah blah, but...no. That bloke is a liar. Or in denial.

And did my eyes deceive me, or is that Scorpius and Sumners snogging? And he says that they're just mates. Right. First of all-ew. Ew to the thousandth degree. I really am going to vomit up the contents of my stomach. I feel totally sick to my stomach. This is bloody disgusting! Ugh. God, the images! Second of all-if they're dating, there's no way Sumners will let him still be mates with me. She barely tolerates Al and Emma, and they've been around a hell of a lot longer, and she hates them a hell of a lot less.

And, I like being friends with Scorpius Malfoy.

Something I never ever thought I'd say.

AN: Review please? And here is a sneak peek of the next chapter:

Corridors

September 24th

"But it's Sophie Sumners. You can't snog Sophie Sumners! She's such a bitch!" I cried hysterically.

He raised an eyebrow.

"I don't have time for this."

Well, that answers the question of if he fancies Sumners or not. I'm seriously questioning the character of anyone that could fancy her.

"Oh, going to snog Sumners some more?" I sneered angrily.

He rolled his eyes.

"Find your own damn Transfiguration tutor," he snapped as he stormed off.

"Wait! But we have an exam in three days!"

Note to Self: Find new Transfiguration tutor. One as patient as the last one would be preferred.