Disclaimer: Still not JK Rowling.
Later that afternoon Rose sat in the corner by the fireplace in the Ravenclaw common room, alone again. She pretended to flip through A History of Magic, as she surveyed the comings and goings from the boys' dormitory. If her rational deduction and skills of observation were correct then there was only one final boy left up there. Suddenly that final boy, Kevin Boot, walked out of the boys dormitory, Rose almost drop her book in the fireplace she got up so fast.
"Kevin! Oy, Kevin!" Rose raced towards him.
He seemed more than a little confuse when he turned to her, and Rose, realizing how barmy she probably seemed right now, felt her face growing flush.
"Erm- hi! I-uh- you were the last to leave the boys' dormitory, right?"
Kevin's confusion simply doubled with that question.
Smooth, Weasley! Not exactly the most subtle way to word that question, Rose thought as she felt her red hot embarrassment spread from her face, down her neck.
"What I meant is-erm- was-uh," Rose, with a forced smile, said the first name she could think of. "Nicholas Corner! Was Nicholas Corner still up there?"
"Oh, no he wasn't. I think he left about half an hour ago for the Quidditch pitch." Kevin answered with a shrug. "I was the last to leave."
Success!
"Oh, well drat. I'll just catch up with him later. Thanks anyway!" Rose smiled and started to make her way back to her chair.
But Kevin stopped her, "Why are you looking for Corner?"
Rose froze. Of course he has to ask why, she though wryly. Can't he just answer the question and be on his way?
"Oh, erm, I wanted- uh," Rose's gaze scanned the common room for inspiration and landed on the Quidditch trials sign-up sheet. "Quidditch tips. Yes, I was hoping Nicholas could give me some Quidditch tips," Rose finally finished.
"Oh, that makes sense," Kevin nodded, his expression now free of any confusion.
Seriously people- I am not that bad at Quidditch! Rose thought, momentarily offended.
"Well like I said, he's at the pitch now. You can walk down with me, I'm on my way there too actually," Kevin suggested.
I seriously may have to curse this bloke out of sheer frustration.
"Well, I would, but I'm afraid that my lack of Quidditch skills is a little embarrassing," Rose fabricated with a forced laugh. "So I think I'll just wait for an opportunity to talk to him privately, away from the crowds and all."
"Well if I see him, I'll let him know you're looking for him. And good luck."
Rose watched as Kevin finally- FINALLY- left the common room, leaving her alone at last. She raced up the stairs to the boys' dormitory.
Despite her mission, Rose had to pause as she first entered the dormitory. Although it didn't look that different from the girls' dormitory, Rose was still intrigued. It was like seeing how the other half lived. The dormitory was about the same size as the girls', but definitely much messier. By all the belongings scattered across the floor, Rose concluded that boys were ignorant to the fact that trunks were invented to hold things. Either that or they simply preferred this sort of chaotic disorganization.
As Rose surveyed the room she finally spotted Scorpius' bed and trunk. Stepping over a cloak, various books, and a few unidentifiable objects, Rose made her way across the room to her destination. Scorpius was slightly neater it seemed compared to the other boys. His bed was made-though not with the best of precision-and his belongings seemed to-surprisingly- be mostly contained in his trunk. That's where she would start her search.
As Rose kneeled in front of his trunk, the surge of guilt she had been suppressing this entire afternoon erupted and paralyzed her mid-mission. Taking a deep breath Rose debate her rationale for the hundredth time today. She knew this was wrong and against all the morals her mum and dad had taught her. But whatever Scorpius' father said in that letter did something to Scorpius. Rose had seen the look on his face when he read it and knew that Scorpius needed a friend.
But a friend, she reminded herself would not be sneaking into his room to read the letter without his permission.
Rose couldn't deny that her motives were not completely selfless- she wanted to read the letter to see if there was some clue, some hint to why Scorpius was so convinced she should hate him. Ever since that day after Transfigurations when Scorpius had mention the supposed stories and warnings her parents should have told her, Rose couldn't stop wondering what happened back then during the war. None of her cousins seem to know anything except the historically documented occurrences that everyone knew about. This might be her only chance to learn the truth of what really happened between Mr. Malfoy and her parents. And it must be something unthinkably awful for Scorpius to be so upset.
Finally resigning herself to what she was about to do, Rose took another deep breath and opened the latch of Scorpius' trunk. Rose began to remove the stacks of books that Scorpius had laid on the very top of the trunk, seeing quite a few of her personal favorite titles. After the books were various pieces of parchment that Rose quickly grabbed, skimming all of them for signs of Mr. Malfoy's signature. Unfortunately they were only Scorpius' study notes, a letter from his mother, and the rest were simply blank sheets. Fighting her growing disappointment, Rose reached the bottom of the trunk where only some unpaired socks and other knick knacks resided. As she replaced all of Scorpius' belongings to the trunk Rose debated where to search next.
In the next five minutes, Rose searched Scorpius' dresser, nightstand, under his bed with no success in finding his father's letter. Glancing at the dormitory entrance, Rose reminded herself she didn't have the luxury of time. Maybe she should just leave in before one of the boys came back. But just as she was about to abandon her cause, Rose had a moment of brilliance.
Bending down slightly, Rose lifted up the corner of Scorpius' mattress to search her own personal hiding place of choice. Running her hand along the bed frame she struggled to keep the heavy mattress propped against her shoulder. Rose gasped in excitement when her hand finally skimmed a piece of parchment. She quickly grabbed it from its hiding spot and allowed the mattress to flop back down onto the bed frame as she spied Mr. Malfoy's signature at the bottom. This was it.
Pausing only momentarily to remember the spell, Rose muttered "Geminio," returned the original letter to its place under the mattress, and fled the dormitory with her duplicate of Scorpius' private letter.
An hour later, Rose was sitting once again in the common room. After finding the letter, Rose had immediately retreated to the girls' dormitory where she immersed herself in Mr. Malfoy's letter. It had not been what she was expecting- if anything it roused more questions instead of answer them. She had to talk to Scorpius immediately though. She had to explain to him that his father was wrong- her family was ready to move on from the past. If Scorpius and his father knew the truth-that her parents hardly ever spoke of the war or their past with the Malfoys- they would realize that there was no rational reason Rose and Scorpius couldn't be friends. Both families were obviously ready for a new start free of past conflicts, and a new friendship between Scorpius and Rose would be a perfect new beginning.
Rose made her way towards the exit of the common room, anxious to begin her search for Scorpius when Nicholas Corner stepped directly in front of her path.
"So, Weasley, Boot told me you were hoping to get some Quidditch pointers from me." He drawled with a boastful smile. "I can't say I'm surprised though. I saw you out on the pitch with your cousin the other evening and you were dreadful." Nicholas chuckled and looked at Rose as if waiting for her to join in with her own laugh. When Rose failed to do so, he gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder and continued, "Don't worry, Weasley, I'll share with you some of my secret Quidditch tips which I guarantee will get you at least a second string position on the team."
Rose was just about to inform Corner what he could do with his "secret Quidditch tips," when Scorpius entered the common room.
"Scorpius! I was just going to find you," Rose started, trying to work her way around Nicholas.
"Well hello, Malfoy," Corner interrupted before Rose could continue. "Are you looking for some Quidditch pointers too?"
Scorpius simply arched a silver blonde eyebrow at Corner's arrogant comment.
Rose audibly huffed in frustration, "Corner, could you just shut up for once. No one wants Quidditch tips from you! Especially Scorpius- he doesn't even play Quidditch!"
"Right, a Malfoy who doesn't play Quidditch?" Corner laughed. "Let me guess Malfoy, Seeker, right? Just like your father." He asked with more than a little malice.
Scorpius simply turned his back on Corner without answering, his grey gaze momentarily meeting Rose's before he headed for the common room entrance.
"Wait, Scorpius! I need to talk to you!" Rose called after him. "Would you get out of my way, Corner!"
Unfortunately neither of the boys were cooperating. Scorpius ignored her and left the common room without even a word. Meanwhile Nicholas continued to block Rose's way as she attempted to follow Scorpius. Oblivious to her disinterest, Corner began to explain the importance of Woollongong Shimmying in Quidditch- whatever that was. Rose was seriously beginning to question how Nicholas Corner was sorted into Ravenclaw.
Ten minutes later, Rose left Corner frozen on the floor of the common room suffering the effects of her full body-bind. Rose spent the rest of the evening looking everywhere for Scorpius. After searching the library, the Great Hall, the potions dungeons, and the courtyard, she left for the castle grounds and headed to the only other place she could think to look-the Quidditch pitch. However even Rose had to admit that finding Scorpius here, after hearing what he had told the others today, was very unlikely.
But to her surprise, as Rose approached the field she took in the sight of Scorpius "I've-never-fancied- Quidditch" Malfoy circling the pitch on one of the school brooms. Rose stood there, craning her neck in order to watch him dip, dive, and swerve as if chasing an imaginary snitch.
Having most likely sensed someone watching him, Scorpius suddenly turned in Rose's direction with a dark scowl on his face. She saw him quickly scan the pitch as if looking to see if anyone else was present. When he found no one else, his stormy gaze returned to Rose and he began to make his descent to the grassy turf.
After he landed, the two first years stood there looking at each other in tense silence for what seemed like several extremely long minutes. Then Scorpius spoke-
"How long have you been here?" he asked not even attempting to disguise his dark annoyance.
"Long enough to see you catch the Snitch and win the Quidditch Cup for Ravenclaw!" Rose wryly exclaimed. "I've been looking for you everywhere, but silly me I didn't think you'd be out here practicing your Quidditch skills. Not after proclaiming to everyone just this morning that the sport 'is simply not your cup of tea.'" Rose mockingly quoted. "But here you are, flying around like Victor Krum himself!"
Scorpius raised an eyebrow to that last comment, "Well as much as I appreciate that compliment, I wouldn't talk up my skills that much."
"You're avoiding the real question!" Rose shouted, all her teasing finally disappearing. "Why would you say you don't play Quidditch when you are actually fantastic?"
"Come on, Rose! You're bright enough to see the problem!" Scorpius shot back. "You heard your cousin- 'oh Malfoy, he'll be seeker, just like his dear old dad'!" He crossly imitated James. "And then not even two hours later that prat Corner said the same exact thing! If I try out everyone will think I am playing just because he did! They will all compare me to him! Probably even speculate if he pulled some strings to ensure my spot on the team! I won't do it! It's up to me to make a new name for the Malfoy family," Scorpius said firmly as if more to himself than Rose.
Rose's eyes went wide as she digested this sudden confession. Shaking her head, she replied softly, "Scorpius, this is bloody ridiculous. You can't give up the things you love just because of your father. You can't plan your years here at Hogwarts around avoiding everything your father did when he was here."
"Why not, Rose? Isn't that exactly what you're doing except in reverse!" Scorpius demanded. "Aren't you the one who was so upset to not be in Gryffindor like your parents? Aren't you the one who is so determined to be top of the class just like your mother was? And call me daft, but Quidditch doesn't really sound like your cup of tea, Rose. So why are you trying out? Wouldn't be because your dad played, is it?"
Rose backed up as if his attacks were physical assaults. "We're not talking about me right now." She tried to say as firmly as possible despite her retreating body language.
"Well we're not talking about me any more either. I don't care what you do with your life, and you shouldn't care about what I do- or don't do- with mine!" He said in a voice dripping with hostility before turning his back on her.
Rose's voice, exasperated yet hurt, calling out made him pause. "I thought we were friends. Friends care about each other!"
Scorpius began to turn back towards her but stopped, knowing he'd never be able look her in the eye when he said this. So back still turned on her, he said it.
"We can't be friends Rose."
He heard Rose huff in rage. "This is about your father again isn't it? And what happened with him and my parents in the past?"
"I'm sorry. I am." Now he did turn back to face her. "But I made a promise." He sadly explained.
Rose just shook her head in disgust. "When will you finally see that the past has nothing to do with us, Scorpius!"
"But it does, Rose! It has everything to do with us! And you would be agreeing with me if you understood it all!" he yelled in frustration.
"Scorpius Malfoy, I can promise you that whatever happened in the past would never influence the way I thought about you or your family," Rose desperately pledged.
Scorpius stared at her, taking in her pleading expression and knew that Rose genuinely believed what she promised. But this wasn't just about Rose. It was about making a new name for his family, like his father wanted.
"Unfortunately, that's not enough Rose." Scorpius shook his head and said in a defeated voice, "This is for the best."
He looked into her blue eyes that pierced him with such resentment, confusion, and pain. All of which he was responsible for putting there.
This is for the best, Scorpius repeated to himself as he finally turned and walk off the Quidditch pitch.
A/N: I am sorry this ended on such a tense and sorrowful encounter! I am still debating if I will continue Rose and Scorpius' story, but if I do I will probably pick up somewhere in the distant future. Probably their fifth year. Just a forewarning! Thanks and hope you all enjoyed!