Malfoy lifts his eyebrows at me, a small smirk tugging his lips upward.
"Language, Weasley." Some of the girls giggle at his 'witty' comment, sighing when he winked at them.
"Well, as you can see, Weasley here is the Head Girl, I'm Head Boy, and let's move on. We're supposed to figure out a temporary schedule. But while the schedule is temporary, the policies will not change. So how about we figure something out for this week-" I choose to jump in now.
"And you will be patrolling with a different member of each house, you understand? I don't want to hear anything about being biased towards your own house," I warn, throwing in a Rose Weasley Look, "we should take shifts for an hour. So it will be 10-11, and 11-12." The prefects either nodded or murmured their assent. Malfoy cuts in again.
"Alright, so 5th years will take the 1st shift, 6th years take the third or second, depends on the 7th years' shift, I guess. Alright, let's figure out your partners." One of the 5th years, Maria something, raises her hand tentatively. I nod, waiting for her to speak.
She mumbled something, and I looked to Malfoy. He looked lost too, and shrugged lazily. I turn back to her and smile gently.
"Um, could you repeat that please, Maria?" She clears her throat, and speaks louder.
"Can we patrol with people in our years? That way it would be easier to keep track and you'd already know them?" I nod.
"Sure, we can-" I turn to see Malfoy widening his eyes and shaking his head. He points from himself to me. I trail off as I realize what I just promised.
Malfoy and I were the only seventh years. We'd be patrolling together this week, thanks to my idiocy.
I glance across the room, wondering how the prefects felt. Everyone looked slightly relieved, while Lily looked like Christmas had come early. She smiled widely when I caught her eye, and I winced inwardly.
She'd be taking the mickey out of me until she graduated. I sigh, and turn back to the compartment.
"Yes, we'll be patrolling within our years. And if there are no more questions, shall we begin making the schedule? If anyone has any problems with this when the week is over, don't worry because this is very temporary." I say. I grab a piece of parchment and begin carelessly throwing names together. When I was finished, Malfoy grabbed the parchment and tapped it with his wand. He thrust it back at me.
"Here, now make copies," he said. He and I had a double shift on Friday. I had to admit, that was a smart idea.
I distribute the schedules, and the prefects are relatively happy with their partners and times. The chart read:
Prefect Schedules:
Mon.: TUES.: wED.: THURS.: FRI.:
#1 H (b) R (b) R (G) H (G) R
G (G) s (G) G (B) S (B) S
#2 G (b) R (B) H (B) S (B) R
R (G) H (G) S (G) G (G) S
I clear my throat, trying to get their attention. They immediately quiet down, waiting for me to speak.
"If you are unable to patrol, come see me. Please try to know in advance. There will be no swapping of partners, please. Any questions?" I pause, waiting for someone to speak up.
"What do we do if we catch someone?" Lily asks, not bothering to raise her hand.
"Well, you may take points- don't misuse this privilege- and you must also record their names and submit them to me or the Head Boy during the meetings. These meetings will take place about once a month. As you know, Prefects may use a special bathroom and have other privileges as well. Have fun, but please remember to be responsible. Thank you." I turn to Malfoy, wondering if he'll say something, but he remains silent. He didn't say much, just let me talk.
If he keeps this up, he might even be *gasp* tolerable this year. I dismiss the prefects, who begin to leave in twos and threes.
"Thanks for keeping your gob shut, Malfoy." I find myself saying. He turns back and smirks lazily.
Merlin, I hated that smirk.
"Whatever, Weasley. I just didn't want to stand there looking at your hideous face any longer than I had to."
"Wow, Malfoy, it's funny how you constantly throw mediocre insults only at my appearance. It's like your brain can't fit your narcissism, your bullshit, and decent insults. I guess the latter had to be tossed out with the rest of your intelligence. Pity, isn't it?" I smile sweetly. He raises and eyebrow and leaves without another word.
I won that round.
Rose: 1
Malfoy: 1
Al and Alice pounced on me the minute I stepped inside the compartment.
"Is it true?" Alice demanded. I turn and look to Lily questioningly. She points to my badge, rolling her eyes at my 'stupidity'.
"Oh, yes. Scorpius Malfoy is Head Boy," I growl. Al pats me on the back sympathetically. He brushes his unruly black hair out of his bright green eyes, then turns to Alice.
"Say, Alice, why don't we play game of Exploding Snap?" He suggests. My head snaps up and I grant him my famous glare.
"Albus Severus Potter. I'm in the middle of a crisis, and you want to play a magical card game?!" I practically screech. He immediately cowers under my wrath.
"Uh, no of course not, Rosie. I just thought you would want to take your mind off of things for a little bit?" Alice slaps him upside the head for me, and smiles at me apologetically.
"Forgive the idiot, Rose. You don't need to worry. You have the same power as Malfoy, and I know you can handle anything he throws at you. Plus, you get your own room. All you really have to share is the Common Room. If you want, you can just come to the Gryffindor or Ravenclaw Common Room. See, it won't be that bad, I promise." I relax while listening to her soothing words.
"Yeah, you're right." I don't say it, but I hope that I had overreacted. After all, how bad could it really be?
The time passed rather quickly, and before we knew it, the candy lady rolled up with her cart.
"Anything from the trolley, dears?" She asked, smiling sweetly. Al immediately dove for his moneybag, claiming it was his treat. We settled down, hands loaded with sweets.
We began to talk animatedly again, until the compartment door slid open once more.
And there stood Lucas Zabini in place of the door. Lucas Zabini, the best mate of Scorpius Malfoy.
Lucas Zabini, his complete opposite.
He smiled at everyone, then turned to me.
"Hey, Rose. I was wondering if you had seen Malfoy after the Prefect's meeting? He didn't come back to the compartment and I know he was at the Head meeting?" I shake my head.
"No, Lucas, sorry. I left after the meeting was over. Sorry." Lucas nodded, looking slightly thoughtful.
"Ahh, he's probably off with some girl… Never mind, I just assumed you would know because you were Head Girl, and he was Head Boy...Nice to see you all. It's been a while." Al nodded politely, while Lily and Alice waved.
"Bye Lucas," I say, smiling at him. Al turned to me as the door slid close.
"Hmmm… That's interesting. Either he believed you two would be fighting, or he just wanted to say hi…" Al trailed off, raising his eyebrows at me.
It suddenly felt very hot in the compartment.
"And since it was hopped up on firewhiskey, the hippogriff flew into the Lake and, erm, began a relationship with a giant squid," Al says, sitting back, satisfied. Alice and I exchange a look.
"And this, Al, is why you should use Dreamless Sleep Potions," I say. He throws a chocolate frog at me in retaliation.
The train slowly came to a stop, and I looked out the window.
We were here.
7th year had begun.
Review please! HopE you liked it! :)