Hogsmeade is a lot duller when there's nobody there to screw around with. I mean, even Al is fun to hang around with when he's in the mood for some, er, hijinks. Hogsmeade's even more fun when you sneak out with some fit Hufflepuff bloke and snog him at the back of the Three Broomsticks.
However, it's not quite so fun when you're going to Split Ends, the almost-trendy-but-not-quite hair salon across from Honeydukes. It just doesn't seem like a very exciting place to start my, well, I don't know what to call it... adventure? Rescue mission? Either way, it's my only lead so far.
I wonder if Al's found my note yet. It said something along the lines of, "Hey Al, I'm going to find Malfoy. Owl you when I can. See you whenever." I left it on his pillow so he wouldn't miss it unless he was being an idiot. Which, of course, has been known to happen, but he'll find it eventually. And Peter Blishwick will probably tell him anyways- they do share a dorm, after all.
Anyways, if he has found it, I wonder what he's thinking. Probably something like, "Wow, Rose is an idiot." Which would be weird, because I was just thinking the same thing about him... But anyways. He's probably wondering why I'm looking for Malfoy. Which still is kind of an unanswered question even to me. I can't help but remember the one time Malfoy wasn't actually a prick to me. Not that I enjoy replaying the memory in my head or anything. It's, well, I don't know. It was the first memory I thought of when I heard he was missing.
It's Valentine's Day of sixth year, and I'm sitting alone at a confetti-sprinkled table in Madame Puddifoot's where I've just had my heart broken in front of all of the happy couples in the stupid place. Elliot Henry, my now-ex boyfriend has already left after telling me he was leaving me for some Ravenclaw floozy whom he'd been snogging for the past three months all those times he said he needed a "study break". There was a lot of yelling and he had to pay for the teacup I threw at him (which missed, by the way, and smashed to bits on the hardwood floor). But now he's gone, and I'm left at the table, trying not to cry.
Elliot Henry was my first serious boyfriend. He was the first guy I cut class for (only once, and it was only History of Magic) and we used to hang out most of the time and he was the perfect boyfriend. He was also my first, because I thought he felt the same way about me as I did about him. And now, while I sit here, pieces of shiny confetti sticking to my forearms, I try hard not to cry, though I can tell my attempt is in vain as my bottom lip trembles horribly. I still feel a couple pairs of eyes watching me and the volume of whispering has yet to go down...
And then, because I've got the worst luck, I see none other than Scorpius Malfoy, walking over from the mushy card-selling section of the little cafe. As though this day can't get any worse! My stomach drops and I don't really know why, only that only bad things will come from him being here, especially if he talks to me, which it totally looks like he's going to do.
But then he surprises me. He just walks up to the table I'm at, sighs, and drops a couple coins on the table, despite the fact the only thing I've ordered is water. Then he gestures towards the door and because I'm so confused and hormonal and emotional and all, I follow him out and after the pink door's shut, I stare at him, confused.
"Why weren't you being a complete prick?" I ask, my voice wavering at first, but gaining more stability.
He rolls his eyes. "Because you weren't being a total harpy like you usually are."
I snort. "Really? I'd call throwing a teacup harpy behavior, if you ask me."
"Well I didn't," he replies, looking everywhere but at me, as if he's got something better to do. Which he probably has, considering it's Valentine's Day and he's always got a girl by his side.
"Well, thanks, I guess," I say curtly, trying to make this less awkward and failing. "So who's the card for?" I ask, noticing the glossy paper in his hand.
He stares at it a moment. "Carly Montgomery." Her name sounds like how you might say "Sunny," when someone asks you what the weather's like; factual and emotionless. I take the card from his hand. The cover's got a picture of a strawberry dipped in chocolate and I nearly gag as I read the printed message on the inside- "You're sweet to the taste, and leave me begging for more." Instead, I just shake my head and laugh as I hand the card back to him.
"She's certainly a lucky girl," I remark sarcastically.
For a moment, he looks as though he's going to laugh with me, but then the small smile on his face disappears and he replies, "Obviously luckier than you'll every be." And then he walks away, and I don't know whether to be offended or burst out laughing.
The bells on the glass door of Split Ends jingle as I close the door. A woman sitting at the front desk pops her bubblegum and looks up from her WitchWeekly. She gives me the once-over, her eyes lingering on my black combat boots.
"Uh... hi," I greet her eloquently with my amazing ability to use words.
"Oh dear, you're going to take some work," she quips before blowing a bubble and popping it loudly.
"Er, actually, I was just in here to-"
But before I can tell her why I'm here, she's already up and touching my hair, examining it from all sides.
"I know why you're hair. You desperately need a haircut, that's why," she supplies for me. Her name tag says Angela, and her fingers are long and thing and manicured.
"Well, no, actually. I was here to-"
"Don't tell me you're here to dye your hair. It's got such a lovely color, Miss... what's your name exactly?"
I can't tell her my real name. What if McGonagall sends someone looking for me in Hogsmeade and they ask her if someone by the name of Rose had stopped by for a haircut?
I blurt out, "Carly," the memory of Valentine's Day apparently still subconsciously on my mind.
She smiles at me. "Well, Carls, how about you have a seat right here and I'll fix up your hair." She gestures at the black leather chair in front of a big mirror.
"Well, actually, Angela, I don't think I-"
"Don't argue. Just sit!" And she shoves me in the chair and I figure, "Why not?" I could go for a haircut anyways, I guess.
"So, Carls, it doesn't seem like it's a Hogsmeade weekend. And from the looks of it, you're definitely a Hogwarts student."
I guess most girls don't wear knee length pleated skirts everywhere, now that you mention it.
"Well... I really needed to come here," I reply, about to ask her about Malfoy. But the woman loves to talk.
"I can tell, love. You've got more split ends than a dog at a kennel," she comments lightly.
Um, thanks?
"But really, when was the last time you got a haircut? I'm willing to guess it's been a bloody long time! But I think your hair could be nice, love. I really do." Her wand is already out, slicing off my hair left and right.
"So, um, how's business been?" I ask, trying to sound casual. Maybe I can just bring up Malfoy in hairdresser conversation. Angela clearly won't let it happen any other way.
"Well, you know, we're still a bit new here, but it's been good enough. We get by, anyways." She trims my bangs and I blow a few small pieces of hair out of my face.
"We? Who else works here?"
"Well, my husband works at the owl office but he helps out here sometimes, you know how that is. By the way, what happened back here?" she asks, trying to tug a comb throw a knot at the back of my head.
But even after another twenty minutes of cutting and clipping and chitchat, I still can't manage to bring up Malfoy and we just seem to get more and more off topic until we're discussing what kind of fruits make the best smoothies.
As she clips off one last piece of hair, she tells me my haircut's finally done, and she beams as we look into the mirror at my hair. I have to admit, it does look pretty good.
"Oh, but Angela, I've been meaning to tell you- I didn't come here to get a haircut!" I exclaim.
Angela just shrugs. "Ah well, s'long as you pay for it." She wipes of her comb with a cloth. "But why'd you come here, Miss Carly?"
"To ask you if Scorpius Malfoy came here for a trim the other day!"
"Scorpius Malfoy... is he that handsome blond fellow?" She wiggles her eyebrows at me. I look at her, a little grossed out.
"I don't know about handsome, but he is blond. He didn't happen to mention where he's going, did he?"
She purses her lips and looks at the ceiling. "Hmm... I can't remember exactly... the boy had such nice hair... though he did mention something about the Leaky Cauldron, now that you mention it, dear."
My eyes light up. I've got another lead! He could be staying at the Leaky Cauldron right now! I stand up, about to Apparate, when Angela politely taps my shoulder.
"Listen, Carly, I know you didn't come here for a trim, but do you think you could cough up at least a galleon or something? I'm trying to make a decent living."
I blush in embarrassment. "Oh... uh... right!" I take a galleon out of my rucksack and hand it to her.
"You know, seems to me like you really care about this Scorpius fellow, seein' as you're so eager to go find him," Angela says, placing the galleon in her cash register at the front desk. She winks at me.
I shudder in disgust. "Merlin, no," I tell her. "I've just got to find him before he goes and gets himself Avada'd."
"Whatever you say, Carly. Have a nice day with Mr. Malfoy!" she teases, grinning. "Come back soon!"
"Yeah, I will, don't worry," I say, smiling. Do I mean it? Maybe not. Though she is very nice, even if she thinks Malfoy is handsome despite his arrogance and general being-a-prick-ness.
But now... I've got to go to the Leaky Cauldron. Forget about how great stupid Malfoy's hair is.
I mean, um, not that I think it's great or anything.
A/N Ughh I don't really like this chapter. Well, the flashback turned out alright, but the hairdresser part turned out pretty bad. I didn't really edit much, so sorry for any SPaG things! But I decided to upload it anyways because I haven't updated in a little while and I wanted to get it out there! So trust me, the next chapter should be better.
Thanks so much to those of you who reviewed, favorited, and alerted this story. And thanks to you guys who just read it! I love you guys! You're amazing!
...And keep up the good work!
I struggled a lot with this chapter, and I kept losing track of what I was saying and all. It took up my whole evening! But I did it! I finished! I'm off to celebrate with a bag of Cheetos.
Peace, suckaaas!
xx
Ali